My story continues...
After Clara finished her bath, she went back to the console room where she saw Twelve scribbling madly on a blackboard.
"Any bright ideas?" she asked.
"Nothing yet, but I will get there."
"You need a break. Coming to join us for a drink in the other TARDIS?"
"I'll give it a miss, got things to do here, and I wouldn't want to spoil your fun."
Clara looked at him with genuine puzzlement.
"Why would you be spoiling my fun, our fun? It'll be good for you to catch up with Amy and Rory; I know how much you loved them."
"Well maybe another time, and it'll give you and Amy a chance to talk about me, ha ha ha!"
"That much is true." Clara replied with a smile. "Not that we'd stop talking about you even if you were there anyway!"
"One thing though."
Twelve picked up a bottle of wine from below him, and placed it on the console desk.
"Amy and Rory always liked this vintage, so maybe you could take it over."
"Of course I will! That deserves a hug."
"No, not the hugging again!"
But it was no good, as Clara grabbed the Doctor.
"I'll get you to like hugging, even it kills me! Thank you Doctor, they'll appreciate that."
"Where's your Doctor?" asked Amy as Clara entered the other TARDIS.
"He's er busy."
"Oh" replied Amy with a look of genuine disappointment. "Tell him, that when we come over tomorrow, no excuse will be accepted! No hiding in the console room, pretending to be busy."
"Aye, aye captain!"
Clara held up the bottle Twelve gave her.
"He gave me this for tonight."
"Ooh I love that vineyard! Give him my thanks, I'm touched he remembered. My Doctor has no interest in wine, unless it's wine gums. He's with Rory, probably drinking Tizer or Fanta!"
Amy led Clara through to a lounge area, where Rory and Eleven were sitting.
"This is where Rory and I hang out when on board and not being attacked by monsters. Through there is our bedroom, and yes we do have a double bed, though that took a bit of persuading!"
"It's nice. I must ask the TARDIS for a better room! Though to be fair, I don't actually spend much time on board, as I insist on being returned home after each adventure, and at the same time I left."
"Does the Doctor always manage that?" asked Rory.
"So far, so good."
"That's impressive!" replied Amy. "You've got your Doctor well house-trained."
"I wouldn't say that" replied Clara. "He turns up completely randomly, and off I go. Sometimes he'll be waiting in my flat, other times he'll turn up at school."
"That must be tricky?"
"Oh yes!"
Clara made herself comfy as Rory poured her a drink. It was all rather cosy this, and Clara pondered whether it would be easier to just live on board the TARDIS full time. But then she also enjoyed her normal life, Danny and the children at school, it was trying to combine both lives that was proving difficult.
If only Danny and the Doctor had got on better, they could go on adventures together, yes the three of them in the TARDIS. After all Danny was her boyfriend, and the Doctor was her er what exactly? Her friend? That somehow didn't seem strong enough, oh dear. Perhaps it was better that Danny wasn't on board before it got any more complicated…
"You were miles away!" exclaimed Amy. "Pining for your Doctor already?" Amy laughed.
"No, NO! Sorry, just thinking about something."
"Don't worry Clara" spoke Eleven, "We'll find the kittens. You have my word on that."
"Thanks, I'm sure you will" Clara smiled back.
"We've got no nibbles!" exclaimed Amy. "Rory, go and get some peanuts and snacks, I'm too knackered to get up."
"You're tired!" Rory mumbled as he dragged his aching limbs out of the chair and exited to find something in the kitchen.
"So seen any good planets and er monsters then Clara?" asked Eleven.
"Oh yes. Will you remember anything I tell you?"
"Not sure, it depends on how this time paradox is resolved."
"In that case, I'd better not tell you about the horrible things that will happen to you, the pain, the agony, the sheer…" Clara smiled, "Boredom!"
"Boredom!" Eleven exclaimed in horror as he jumped up.
"Don't worry, she's only pulling your leg" replied Amy with a laugh.
"You're joking aren't you" Eleven continued with a pleading look. "Anything but boredom?"
"Yes I was joking" replied Clara, though after she said, that she thought about the Doctor spending hundreds of years on Trenzalore, and how when required he was able to adapt to being stuck somewhere, carving wooden toys for the children.
Back on his TARDIS Twelve stared at his console screens. He'd scanned all over the planet, and no sign of any crack. It was all very frustrating. Annoyed with himself he walked outside, and sat on a convenient rock, where he looked up at the stars. At least Clara seemed to be having a good time, she and Amy were getting on well, which was one positive outcome of this mess…
Rory eventually returned from the kitchen with some food.
"Ah that's better" spoke Amy grabbing a handful of peanuts. "We don't get many visitors here, funnily enough!"
"Apart from River" replied Rory. "But then she's our daughter anyway, and knows more about the TARDIS than we do! Have you met River?"
"Yes I have" replied Clara carefully, desperately trying not to say too much.
"With River's complicated timeline, god knows which part of her life that was!" exclaimed Eleven, looking at Clara hopefully. "Ok, don't tell me, Spoilers!"
"The other Doctor did warn us that Clara was made of strong stuff" replied Amy. "Maybe we should get her drunk instead! Which reminds me, we seem to be out of wine. Rory, can you…"
"Righto" he exclaimed as he opened the bottle Clara has brought over, and started refilling their glasses.
"Clara is right" continued Eleven. "The human brain can't cope with knowing the future. Even Time Lords can struggle with this."
"Fair enough. Ooh I'd forgotten how nice this wine was, your Doctor Clara is a man of good taste!"
"Not fashion taste though" moaned Eleven. "Why's he dressed as a magician? Does he cut Clara in half as his party piece?"
"Says the man in a tweed jacket" replied Amy with a smile.
"Tweed jackets are cool!"
Clara smiled. She'd forgotten how much she missed the various uncool things that this Doctor found cool. The boundless puppy dog energy and enthusiasm. But then she had enjoyed the company of all the versions of the Doctor she had met, all were amazing in their own way.
"So Clara" continued Eleven, "How do you find your current Doctor? I take it you were with me when I regenerated?"
"Ye-es I was there. Great, yes, all of time and space, eh."
Realising that her comment didn't sound very complimentary, Clara continued.
"This version of the Doctor is different from you, and yes it hasn't always been easy, but I think we're really starting to understand each other now, and are making a great team. We make a good Doctor and Companion, especially…"
Clara smirked.
"When I'm the Doctor!"
"Eh?"
"Yes, I quite fancy myself as the Doctor really."
Clara put on her most imposing voice.
"I'm the Doctor. Doctor Oswald."
"That's a good idea" added Amy. "Perhaps I could swap with my Doctor for a day?"
"Swap?" exclaimed Eleven.
"I could do the sonic screwdriver bit, waving it around, looking important, while you could be my Companion. Well you and Rory."
"How come I get to be a Companion again?" moaned Rory. "Why can't I be the Doctor?"
"Nah, that would be ridiculous! Doctor Amy, hmmm. I'd need a bow tie though, I'm sure I can find one in the TARDIS. Yes…Doctor Amy and her boys."
Amy stood up and waved an imaginary sonic screwdriver around.
"It'll be a piece of cake!"
"So that's settled then" continued Clara. "Amy and I will be the Doctors tomorrow, while you boys can help us."
"It would be fun" replied Amy, "Though I suspect that they might object. "
"Yeah, might have to get some more willing Companions."
"Drop these ones off at the nearest planet."
Amy burst into laughter.
"A nice idea, one of these days eh Clara."
At that moment Clara's phone rang.
"Eurgh, not Danny again!"
Clara answered the phone.
"Hey you!"
{Sorry to bother you as you're probably rushing back.}
"Oh, that's fine."
{But for info, you won't be teaching Bradley this afternoon, as he's gone home sick.}
"Great! No, not great, but er you know what I mean, as he can be a bit trying."
{Are you OK, as you sound a bit funny?}
"Why would you think that?"
{Your voice sounds a bit slurred, as if you've been drinking?}
"Drinking? Ha, ha. I think it's a bad line. Anyway must dash, love you!"
{Love you too.}
Clara put the phone down and took a big swig out of her wine glass.
"Drinking? Well It's not as if I'll be returning to work any time soon, is it!"
Thanks for the reviews. Apologies for the absence of the cliffhanger I promised at the end of the previous chapter, but I postponed it, as that's when everything changes (as River might have said!)