The air around the TARDIS was filled with the smell of gunfire and smoke as she whirred into life. The ancient machine hated conflict as much as her Doctor did. She had no idea why so many apparently sentient beings were determined to fight each other. Whirring and wheezing as she dematerialised part of her wished the Doctor had listened to River Song and learned to take her hand break off once in a while.

"So." Clara paced the main console room of the TARDIS as she tried to make sense of what was going on. Alistair sat on the steps, apparently in shock at the idea that he was now in a machine that was 'bigger on the inside' and said machine was somewhere in time and space. Meanwhile the Doctor stood with his hands on the console staring at the monitor.

"So?" Alistair looked up. "None of this is real. It can't be. I mean, really."

"Look." The Doctor stared at him. "I always credited you as being a man with some sense. This is real. This is happening and I am sorry you were caught up in this but you were."

"Yes." He paused.

"I didn't ask you to follow us into the TARDIS."

"I had to see if your friend is ok." He sighed.

"Why?" Clara asked. "I mean you never met her before. Why would you care?"

"Because she was hurt. Because. I." He shook his head. "She shouldn't have been on the Firing Range. None of you should have been."

Clara sat next to him on the steps as the TARDIS hummed, glad she was out of the line of fire and apparently agreeing with the young soldier.

"Can I ask you something?" Clara turned to him.

"Yes Ma'am."

Clara smiled slightly. "Are you dating?"

"Excuse me?" He laughed.

"I'm not flirting. Genuine question."

"Er well, yes. I've been stepping out with a young lady called Fiona." He smiled as he thought of the young woman. "She's not going to believe this."

"No she wont." The Doctor snapped. "Humans. You only believe what you can see. Which is good, in a way. But very limiting. Now, why would you be on that particular firing range at that particular time?"

"Its an Army base." He sighed. "Look what is going on?"

"Have you ever heard of the Bootstrap Paradox?" The Doctor asked as Clara groaned.

"Not the Beethoven story. Not again." She sighed. "If he gets the guitar out I can only apologise." She got to her feet as the Doctor shot her a look.

"The Beethoven? I've heard of him. Of course I have."

"Good."

"Oh god." Clara huffed. "Please Doctor. Is this really the time?"

"Kate's very existence relies on him understanding what is going on here. You think that thing shot her to kill her? No. It was implanting its device in her. Monitoring her ready for erasure."

"Erasure? You mean."

"Time is running out. Kate Lethbridge Stewart is not going to die of a gunshot wound. She will be removed from history because of it.".

"Sorry?" Alistair frowned, "What did you say her full name is?"

"Ah." The Doctor turned to him. "I, well. That is to say." He tried to bide his time as the door from the Medical Bay slammed open.

"He means we've travelled in time and you are my dad." Kate breathed heavily as the dark haired soldier stared.