The moment of truth has arrived. But what is Clara doing?
"CLARA, GET OUT OF MY TARDIS!" snapped Twelve to Clara.
"No."
"That's an order! I need to fly into the crack, and do it as soon as possible."
"I know."
Twelve looked to the floor as he replied, not wanting any eye contact.
"Then why are you here? I've said goodbye, were you expecting a goodbye hug or something. Hurry up and go."
"Doctor don't you understand?"
"Frankly no, I don't understand why you're still here."
"Doctor, I can't let you do this alone. You're not sending me away again."
Twelve finally looked at Clara, but his eyes showed surprise rather than hostility.
"Don't you understand the risks? I might never make it out again; we could be stuck in that crack forever."
"I wouldn't let you be stuck. Remember Trenzalore?"
"There are no Time Lords to save us on the other side of this crack Clara. All of us have to reach the end at some point, maybe this is the end for me, but it doesn't have to be the end for you. You have a life to live, and I won't let you waste it."
Twelve took a deep breath.
"I won't let you do this Clara. Please go, the other Doctor will take you home. We've had a good run together, but it has to end sometime."
"Doctor, I am confident you will be able to fix this, every time I have doubted you, you have proved me wrong. But…"
Clara's voice cracked as she continued.
"But, if you don't succeed, well I should be there by your side. The Doctor and Clara, together until the end."
"Clara, what about your life? P.E?"
"He'll cope" Clara replied a weak voice.
"Your Doctor is waiting in the other TARDIS, he can take you home."
Clara then angrily slapped Twelve.
"HOW DARE YOU!"
Twelve stepped back in shock.
"Why do you keep thinking that? He's not my Doctor, YOU are. Do you think I'm so shallow that I couldn't cope with your regeneration, that I'm pining to be with your former face?"
"It's just that, I thought that, I mean seeing him there…" Twelve ground to a halt. "Sorry."
"Sorry also. That's a first" Clara smiled. "We must stop apologising to each other; we might start getting on too well."
"And that wouldn't do." Twelve smiled back.
"So what happens now?"
"I've worked out the co-ordinates, so just need to input them."
"Can you let the other TARDIS know that I won't be coming back, as they might be wondering where I've got to."
"Certainly boss."
Twelve returned to the console desk and tapped a message.
On the other TARDIS, Eleven and Rory were fretting.
"And she definitely went into the other TARDIS?" asked Rory.
"Yes" replied Eleven. "I saw her enter. I suppose she could have left it again and gone outside, but that seems unlikely, as she would be stranded here once we left."
"What do you think she's doing? Trying to get the other Doctor to change his mind?"
"I don't know. There's nothing we can do. Ah, a message has appeared on my console screen from the other TARDIS."
"Is this a Time Lord email system?"
"Not exactly, especially as it's effectively a message from one TARDIS to er itself. A bit timey-wimey really."
"So what does it say?"
"Clara is staying with me. I will be flying into the crack in 30 minutes, stay in your TARDIS, but as far away from the crack as possible" Eleven read out loud.
"She's staying on board? In the TARDIS that's flying into the crack? That might never come out again?"
"Apparently, yes."
"It's what you do isn't it Doctor? You turn them into you."
"Into me?"
"Why else would Clara be staying in the other TARDIS, knowing the risks?"
"Is that a good or a bad thing?"
"I don't know."
"Neither do I, but Clara it appears will be a fitting replacement for you and Amy, when the day comes for you two to leave me. Together."
Eleven exchanged a fist bump with Rory.
"We will get Amy back, I know it." he continued, "Now we need to move and go somewhere safer, well away from the crack. Follow me and don't wander off!"
Twelve set up the coordinates as Clara watched him.
"It's all set up now. It's a bit tricky as it looks as if we're flying into our self, so I had to add some extra information to tell my TARDIS that there's another version of this TARDIS out there which really shouldn't exist but does."
"What would happen if we tried to fly into our self?"
"I've no idea, but I'm sure it wouldn't be pleasant. As it is, things could get quite explosive. I've warned the others to stay well away from the crack, but we'll be at the heart of it and will need to hold on tight."
Eleven led Rory into the heart of the TARDIS, until they came out at another console room.
"This is one of the old backed up versions Rory. Well away from the explodey-wodey stuff, but I can still keep in touch with what's going on. I asked the TARDIS where I should go and she led me here. I'll just send the other TARDIS a message."
Twelve saw the message appear on screen.
"That's good, they're in one of the old console rooms, well away from the crack, but can still stay in contact."
"Old console rooms?"
"Yes, the previous versions are backed up. Just in case I need to revisit one. We're all set; I'll just send a final message."
"What did you say?"
"Geronimo. It seemed appropriate."
"So this is it then Doctor?"
"Yes Clara, the moment of truth, as once we go down this path, there's no turning back. If you decide to change you kind now, I'll understand and won't think anything less of you."
"My place is with you Doctor. Maybe it's time to take my stabilisers off."
"Right. You'll need to hang on tight, as it will all get rather dramatic now. Ready?"
"Ready."
Clara and Twelve exchanged a final glance as both prepared themselves for the plunge into the unknown, then Twelve approached his console and set the TARDIS in motion. There followed a deafening crash then the TARDIS shook around violently, its inhabitants holding on for dear life. Eventually the TARDIS stopped.
"Are you ok Clara?"
"Fine I think. Where are we, did it work?"
A short chapter, but I couldn't not leave this on some sort of cliffhanger! And yes, it's very mean of me :-)
Thanks for the reviews, we will definitely find out in the next chapter if Twelve's plan worked or not...