Author's Note: I sincerely apologize for the large delay to this chapter. I cannot make any excuses, and if I did they would be piss-poor, so I hope you, my dear faithful readers, can only accept my apologies. Here it is! So far so good, in my opinion.

Disclaimer: Don't own! Not a single aspect of it.

-x-

Smaller on the Outside

"You're the man in my dreams." "Well I've never gotten that kind of response before." Oswin/Eleventh Doctor.

-x-

Being an intern to a Corporation run mostly by men was a complete and utter joy. No. No it wasn't. Clara just thought she'd try her hand at sarcasm for once. These men would stare at her arse for more than was necessary, order her around, and demand coffee at such odd hours just to see her huff to the coffee cart and back. Oh yes, she hated working with men.

Except for one, the sweetheart on the tenth floor. His name was Jimmy Brisk. The co-CEO of Bad Wolf Corporation, he was a man who actually respected his employees, his clients, and most of all, his interns. At the tender age of forty-five, he was married with two kids, had a loving wife, and a reputable company. He smiled at her face and not her breasts whenever she delivered his coffee. In the beginning many of the interns were intimidated at the thought of taking the morning coffee up to the co-CEO up to the thirtieth floor. But Clara saw it as an opportunity, and took it in stride.

"Good morning Mr. Brisk." Clara walked in to see Mr. Brisk hunched over his desk, scribbling furiously on a pad of paper.

"Good morning Clara." He briefly looked up to return her smile.

She set his coffee gently on his table, setting the newspaper alongside it. Mr. Brisk didn't require much from his interns, maybe the odd menial task every once and a while, but as a whole he was a rather easygoing fellow. Clara straightened herself and was prepared to leave when Mr. Brisk called after her.

"Actually, Clara, can you hold on for a moment?"

Today was not like one of those days.

"Of course Mr. Brisk." She blinked in confusion.

"Oh stop with that 'Mr. Brisk'. He was my father, Jimmy will do." He started to rearrange certain papers on his desk, putting things aside until he reached under a rather impressive pile to pull up a familiar set of papers. It was her submission for the Library Gala. The very one she had to spend two days and two nights on, tearing her hair out for ideas.

"This," Jimmy said as he held it aloft, "was an amazing submission Clara."

A blush stained her cheeks, because believing it was an amazing project and hearing someone else confirm that it was were two entirely two different things.

"T-Thank you, sir." A tiny smile escaped her.

"It's so good in fact, that I'm turning it into a reality." Her brain crashed for half a second. Her inner train derailed. Her inner monologue plane flew into the Bermuda Triangle, never to be seen again.

"I beg your pardon?" she squeaked.

"Your submission. The powerpoints, the graphic innovations, hell, even the sparkly pink kitten you designed for the children's area, it's all yours." He laid her submission folder on the desk, watching her reaction.

"But…wait, what about Mikael? I thought he was conducting the presentation at the Gala?" Clara asked in panicked confusion. Mikael had been doing nothing but bragging for the past several days about how he had bagged the Gala presentation. Of course it disgusted her, especially with how he carried himself through the office and constantly stared at her breasts. But if he earned the presentation, she honestly couldn't complain.

"Mikael?" Jimmy guffawed for a good moment, "Clara, sweetheart, please don't let what I'm about to tell you leave this office, but Mikael's portfolio was…lacking. Now yours, yours is something that would proudly represent Bad Wolf." He let a warm smile grace his features.

At first, she wanted to cry. Not out of joy, out of dismay. There was only one reason she had submitted the portfolio in the first place and it was because she knew she would never be picked. She knew as an intern for Bad Wolf the chances of her portfolio even being considered were extremely slim, so the thought of being picked completely escaped her. But she had submitted her best and most proper work just so maybe, just maybe, someone would look at it and think, 'There's more to her than previously thought'. The thought of actually being picked just didn't cross her mind. Which is why she took that shift with Louise's Catering Company, and it was also why she decided to only help with setting up the Library in the morning with Gemma.

But she couldn't say no.

Only an idiot would say no. But she had to say no. She would have to be that idiot and say no because she knew that she had other obligations the night of the Gala. She-she-

"Thank you sir." Even her own voice sounded small to her ears.

"Now, I know how you must feel." Jimmy started, "Out of the hundreds of submissions, yours is the one that's picked. It's an amazing feeling isn't it? You must feel honored. Well, feel free to feel that way, but also know that you deserve this. You deserve this time in the spotlight. You even deserve the bonus."

"B-bonus?" Clara had no knowledge of this. "What bonus?"

"Well it's a significant amount of money. Something to the tune of…five thousand pounds?"

Her heart stopped. That, was a lot of money indeed.

"Five thousand pounds?" She collapsed onto a seat.

"It's like winning the lottery isn't it?" Jimmy asked gleefully.

"Not only that! But, naturally, seeing as how you're an intern, well, we can't have an intern giving the presentation. So, we're hiring you!" his face broke out into an even bigger smile. But Clara could only feel faint.

"I-I don't know what to say."

"Yes, would be nice." The co-CEO joked.

Clara swallowed.

-x-

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Jimmy had assured her that he wouldn't announce the chosen submission until two days from now. Which gave Clara two days to do some damage control.

As she breezed through the rest of the day, she started to make a mental checklist.

'One, call Louise, tell her I can't work the shift.' But the sudden thought of Louise yelling at her, blaming her, and then breaking down came to mind. 'Okay maybe not.'

'Two, call Gemma, tell her I can't help set-up the library.' But then she could all ready see Margaret cackling away, easily seeing the Library as hers. 'Shit, I can't do that either.'

'Three, call Elizabeth, tell her they should have a coffee sometime. At least after this whole thing blows over. If it ever blows over.' Clara sighed, putting a hand to her forehead, 'I think I'm going to be sick.'

"Clara? Clara are you all right?" a gentle hand touched her shoulder. Clara looked up from her desk to see a worried face looking back at her.

"I'm so sorry Donna, yes, I'm fine." Clara let out a breath.

"Sweetheart you look anything but fine." Donna Noble huffed. Quickly she looked about to make sure no one was watching, before leaning in closer, "You know, if you really don't feel all that well, you can just go home. I'll cover you."

The brunette could feel her eyes start to water, because of all the selfless people she's ever met in this world, Donna Noble (soon to be Temple-Noble) was the most amazing person. They had met under bizarre circumstances. The resident git, whose name was Duncan but whose moniker in the workplace was Dum-Dum, was acting more git-like than usual. Donna, not being an intern and actually holding some standing in the company, was the only one in the office who would be able to put Dum-Dum in his place. However once she was gone all bets were off. That day was one such day. Clara had only been interning for a month, when apparently Dum-Dum's girlfriend had left him because she had caught him in bed with another girl (surprise, surprise) and he was making sure everyone at the office knew about how horrid she was as a girlfriend to begin with. He complained about everything, from the color of her hair to how she brushed her teeth. He would tell anyone within an earshot how she had foul breath and how her hands were always so dry. Clara, all ready feeling haggard from having spent the entire night finishing a big project for her Psych 301 class, was on edge. So when Duncan had asked her in a not so subtle way if she cared to know any other unattractive traits his former girlfriend had, she snapped.

"Yes, we know she had yellow teeth. Yes, we know that all the meals she prepared were completely inedible and disgusting. Yes, we know all about her atrocious wardrobe and how she couldn't dress herself even if her life depended on it! But you know what Dum-Dum? No matter how much you slander this poor girl, we're still so happy for her because she finally left a gigantic git like you!" she exploded. The silence in the office was deafening, and it was only until she took in the astonished look on Duncan's face did she realize her mistake.

"I-I…I-I…" she stuttered.

The silence was pierced, however, by a slow clap from behind her. Clara whirled and only paled even more when she saw Donna standing there, clapping in blatant amusement.

"Couldn't have said it better myself." Donna announced mirth evident in her tone of voice.

"Did you hear what she said to me?!" Duncan accused, standing to his feet, "She called me a git!"

"Because you are! She's the only one here with balls to say so to your face!" the look of shock on Duncan's face is still a cherished memory to Clara.

"I've just been in a large meeting with many of our higher ups, and they've determined that due to some discrepancies in the company, we're going to have to let some people go." Everyone took in a deep breath, having been oblivious to there being such an important meeting occurring.

"Actually, I take that back, we're only getting rid of one person," her eyes narrowed on Duncan, "Now that that's over with, Duncan, I'm sorry, but we're going to have to let you go." The man spluttered in even more shock.

"That-you have to be mistaken-"

"Oh, that's correct, I am. I'm not sorry, but we're going to have to let you go." Donna rectified, "You have three hours to collect your belongings and to leave the premises, or else I'll have to get security to escort you out."

"You can't be serious! There's no one else in this department who can do what I do! Who-who are you going to get to replace me? Her?!" In fury he gestured towards Clara, who still stood there, unable to comprehend the events unfolding before her.

"Maybe." Donna shrugged, "Whoever it is we get, it doesn't concern you. Three hours Dum-Dum. You, come with me." The older woman gestured for Clara to follow her, and the girl happily complied, eager to escape the glaring eyes of the recently fired Dum-Dum.

Once they were a good distance away, Donna addressed her.

"That, was brilliant."

Clara gaped.

"The look on his face was priceless! Every time I'm feeling mopey I'm just going to picture Duncan McCready's face in my mind, and I'll laugh myself silly. You're going to go far in this company sweetheart. Clara right? You're the one who always gets my coffee order correct. You cannot believe the amount of people here who don't know the difference between a latte and a frappuccino." Donna continued.

"Wait…so, am I fired?" Clara questioned in confusion.

"You? Pah! You I like. And I don't say that often enough." Donna winked.

And from then on Donna had taken her under her wing, showing her the ins and outs of the company. Introducing her to senior partners and those who had strong influence amongst the employees. It was a magnificently bizarre experience.

Now Donna was strict, not unrelenting and obstinate, just strict, where you had to be on the verge of death itself for her to even consider letting you go home early. But here she was, urging Clara to go home only because she was having a crisis.

"Donna I couldn't do that."

"Course you can! Think of it as an early congratulatory present. Go home, open a bottle of wine, call that boy you've been too scared of calling, and have a merry night." The red head quirked her mouth into an impish smile at Clara's sputtering.

"H-how do you know about that?" she was assured by Jimmy that he would tell no one.

"Darling, who do you think suggested your piece to him in the first place?" Donna asked with a tilt of her head.

Clara blinked. Oh, Donna Noble. You brilliant woman you.

She hugged the older woman tight, and Donna laughed, hugging her back.

"You, are a god amongst men." Clara admitted.

"Goddess, you mean." Donna corrected in good-natured humor.

"Now go on and get, you. We'll see you next week." Donna pushed her towards the elevator, and Clara didn't need to be told twice.

-x-

The moment Clara came home she called Elizabeth, because she was still too chicken to call Louise or Gemma. Her sister answered on the fifth ring.

"Hello? Oh can you hold a mo?" Elizabeth cut in before Clara could say anything. There was a girlish scream in the background, which Clara could easily identify as Gabrielle's.

"I'm going to get you little girl!" Her sister yelled, probably in the direction of her daughter. Clara smiled, because at the age of two, Gabrielle was easily the most energetic child Clara knew. Then again Clara didn't know many children, but that didn't deter the fact that Gabrielle seemed to run on nothing but Lucky Charms and My Little Pony.

"Sorry, hello?" Elizabeth asked into the phone.

"Hey Lizzie." Clara said slowly, guilty at not having called her sister for such a long time.

"Clara? Clara! How are you? Please tell me you're calling because you've found a boyfriend. A darling, handsome man who's come to sweep you off you feet so you can become his Countess or something?" Elizabeth implored. Clara sighed, now she remembered why she didn't call as often as she did.

"Are you and mother still going to go on about that? Look, that's not why I called. I…I have some news." But Clara's throat constricted before she could finish.

"What? Oh my God, you're not pregnant are you? Because let me tell you, Gabrielle might seem like fun, but at your age you don't need something to distract you from getting your Psychology degree." Clara winced, another thing she'd have to tell her.

"No! God, no. I'm not pregnant." Elizabeth let out a sigh of relief.

"Phew! Well that's a relief then, so what is it you need to tell me?"

Clara had every intention of looking for guidance. Really, she did. But she could all ready imagine the disapproval on Elizabeth's face, her words, her actions, and her very attitude. Mom and dad put away a lot of money for you to go to college. You shouldn't throw it all away by taking some job at some company!

"I called…because I really missed Gabby. And I knew you and Harold don't go out as often as you do, so I thought I would watch her myself. You know, an auntie and niece sort of day." Clara lied through her teeth.

"Oh! Well that's spectacular because Harold and I actually were thinking about visiting his sister up north on Saturday but you know how Gabby feels about that place. Filled with cats and smelling like cat piss. We knew she'd throw a tantrum the entire way there, so do you think you could watch her for the day?" Clara let out a breath, going through her schedule in her head.

"Saturday? Uhm, yeah! Saturday's great!" Clara agreed. But in her mind she was panicking. Saturday? Saturday? Why did she feel like she was doing something important Saturday?

"Wonderful, see you then yeah?"

"Y-yeah…see you then." Clara ended the call, looking at her phone in disbelief. She then hit her forehead repeatedly with her mobile.

"Stupid, stupid! How could you be so stupid?! Why didn't you just tell her?! Ugh!" Clara stormed off.

-x-

Author's Note: Thank you all for reading! I know, I know, when's the Doctor coming in? Believe me, he's coming, but there must be back story! I demand it to be so! Thanks again for reading and I hope you have a wonderful day.