I actually forgot to update this story in a while. (Oops.) Happy New Year, everyone! Here's to a better year!

Enjoy!

Hidden Message Six.

"Have a good day at work."

"I can't travel today."

The Doctor looked up from the console. Eyebrows furrowing, he asked, "Why?"

"Dad's sick," Clara replied matter-of-factly, leaning against the doors. "Linda's out in Ireland to visit family – my nan's looking after her neighbor's dogs." She adjusted her coat, adding, "I'm driving up to see him now." She looked up to see the Doctor giving her an almost disappointed look. It wasn't too obvious – the Doctor's expressions never were – but it was definitely there. His eyebrows were slightly knitted together – his shoulders rounded over just by a fraction – his eyes were just a tiny bit wider.

"Don't give me that," Clara tsked, walking forward. Resting a hand on his shoulder, she said, "Besides, I'm not saying that you can't come along – but…" She pressed her lips together. Giving the Doctor's shoulder a quick pat, Clara said decidedly, "I'm not too sure about how my dad will react. He only met you a few times, after all." She tilted her head to the side. "I'll give you a call, if you're really lonely," she added lightly, though she was only partly joking.

The Doctor seemed to see that, too. "I'll be fine," he replied. "Just don't get sick yourself."

"Me? Nah," Clara grinned. "Strong immune system." She looked over the Doctor's shoulder. "Besides, looks like you've got some plans on your own." She scooted around the Doctor, dropping her hands on the console. Clara leaned forward, eyeing the screens sitting in front of her. "See? You've got places to go."

"And without a Clara Oswald."

"You'll be fine."

"So sure?"

Clara smiled again. "I'm very sure," she replied. She drummed her fingers against the console. "Just don't put yourself away for over a week. We all know how that ended up last time." Clara spun around on her heel and skipped up the steps, reaching for the books on the shelves. "Do you mind if I borrow one of your newer books? I've been out of things to read – and I might be able to have some wiggle room while I'm taking care of my dad. I've done most of my grading, too – yes, I've temporarily stopped procrastinating. How marvelous is that?"

"Nothing wrong with procrastination," the Doctor called after Clara. "I do it all the time."

"Only I do not have a TARDIS," Clara sang.

"You have me."

Clara whirled around, hands still latched over the book. She had chosen one of the older classics that the Doctor had tucked away – one of the unpublished editions of the manuscript of Emma. (And while it wasn't her favorite of the Jane Austen books – not exactly the classical Pride and Prejudice, but it was still a good one. Besides, she found that re-reading Jane Austen books was her way of re-visiting that joker.) "I have you," she agreed. She ran down the steps, tucking the book close to her side. "I'll have you popping in and out often enough."

Clara rested against the railing of the steps. "Alright then," she said, flipping through the pages of the book. "I'll have to get going soon. Anything you need me to know right now? You know how you do that sometimes – wouldn't want you accidentally materializing in the bathroom again."

"For the record, I didn't actually materialize in the bathroom," the Doctor argued, walking around the console. "It was next to the toilet, but that doesn't make it actually materializing – I didn't choose –" The Doctor was cut off by a quick laugh from Clara.

"I know," she said, shaking her head. "I was teasing." She tossed the book up in the air, catching it by one hand. "Any plans to where to go from here on out?"

"No idea."

"Will it involve saving people?"

"Possibly."

Clara grinned. "Then you'll be fine." She skipped up to the Doctor until they were standing right next to each other. Clara reached out briefly to squeeze the Doctor's hand, saying lightly, "Have a good day at work."

"Have a nice time with your father."

"I'll tell him you said hello," Clara said, heading up to the doors.

"Will he remember me?"

"I'm pretty sure he will," Clara replied cheerfully. "You're a bit hard to forget about." She was about to leave the TARDIS when the Doctor called after her, "What if I have a bad day?"

Clara paused. "What?" she asked, turning around.

The Doctor only shrugged his shoulders. "I have the occasional bad day at – well – 'work'. What'll I do if I have a bad day?"

Clara patted her fingers against the side of the door. "Well," she said decidedly, "the answer should be obvious, shouldn't it?"

"It really isn't."

Clara rested the side of her face against the door. "Oh, come on," she said lightly. She pushed herself off and headed for the Doctor again. Leaning forward, she continued, "If you have a bad day, then you'll just have to come by again."

With that, Clara gave the Doctor an affectionate poke on the forehead and spun around, racing out the doors.

A/N - I can't believe we're back on hiatus. (I watched the Christmas special - I was sad that we couldn't see Jenna Coleman on our television screens again, but I remembered why I loved River Song's character so much. And while I'll always be a Whouffaldi shipper, I felt sad for River when she gave that whole speech about how the Doctor doesn't say 'I love you'. That. That hurt a little.)

Reviews would be nice! (I know there's more than two people reading this story, so I'd appreciate it if you guys could take the extra two seconds to post a review?) Constructive criticism is alright, but flames are not! (Oh, and is anyone else facing the problem where reviews don't show up even after it's posted? Because that has been happening with my other stories, and I don't know if it's just me or if it's a problem on this website.)