Title: A Day and Life on the TARDIS
Author: Flydye8/Heintz571
Pairings: Clara/12th Doctor
Rating: T
Summary: This is a collection of stories about the times in-between Clara's and the Doctor's adventures. The ones we never see; because we all know once you starting living with someone, life always gets more interesting. The stories are primarily fluffiness, domestication, family life, romance and a loving friendship taking place after "Last Christmas".
Author's note: My heart felt thanks goes out to my beta reader Marie Ann Louise who even with her busy schedule made time to read this over for me. Thank you my friend.
The ceiling came crashing down on Vastra and the Doctor causing them to fall to the ground, a large bolder falling on the Doctor's arm. He screamed as he felt excruciating pain as the bone snapped; not wanting Clara to feel his pain because of their connection, he raised the walls in his mind blocking her from his thoughts before passing out.
Vastra felt the heavy weight of the Doctor's body as he collapsed on her and she did her best to lower him to the cave floor. Once he was settled again she looked at his arm and cringed. His forearm was bent oddly to his elbow and when she looked closer she breathed a sigh of relief that the broken bone didn't penetrate the skin.
Pointing at one of the Silurians she commanded, "Find me some pieces of wood!"
The Silurian that she instructed quickly found two pieces of wood that had splintered from the support beams and had fallen to the ground. He hurried and brought them to Vastra, "This is all I could find."
Grabbing the pieces from him she bent them, assessing the strength of the wood, it wasn't ideal but it would have to do. Pulling out the Time Lord's shirt from his trousers she tore the bottom half into strips. Carefully she placed the pieces of wood on each side of the injury and secured them in place with the strips of cloth.
As she finished, the Doctor started to come around and as he gasped for breath he asked, "Is everyone okay?"
Vastra looked around and noticed all were accounted for. "It seems so, but I fear if we don't get out of these tunnels soon that will not remain true." After a brief pause she continued, "Did you connect with Clara's mind?"
"Yes, but I've blocked her because I don't want her to feel my pain," he replied as he continued to gasp for breath doing his best to control the agonizing throbbing he was feeling.
"You need to connect with her again, it is imperative if we are going to survive."
"No, I will not let her feel my pain!" he stated stubbornly.
"Doctor, you need to open your mind to her now!"
"I won't do it Vastra!" he said angrily as he tried to sit up. Hissing he fell back down to the ground.
"Fine, I guess letting her believe you are dead will be less painful for her than letting her know you are just injured," Vastra commented sarcastically as she moved away from the Doctor in disgust.
"She won't believe that."
"She won't, will she? You cut off your mental communication with her to protect her from your pain, but who is to say she won't feel more pain because she thinks you're dead. I am sure they felt the last earthquake above ground and I have no doubt they will think we are gone from this earth."
Vastra's words caused him to cringe. Was he too stubborn and willing to let his beloved think he is dead? He answered his own question by opening his mind to Clara once again.
Clara called out with her mind, Doctor! And when she received no reply she fell to the ground in anguish. Jenny quickly went to her side and embraced the young woman hoping that she could give some comfort to her.
Feeling Jenny's arms around her caused Clara to stammer, "I can't hear him anymore." Meeting Jenny's eyes she whispered, "What if he is dead and has regenerated?"
"Miss Clara don't think like that, I'm sure they are okay."
"No!" Clara responded as she yanked her body away from her and stood up. "He must have regenerated and now we have lost our connection."
Jenny reached out to console her but stopped as she collapsed to the ground, "Clara what is wrong?"
Not hearing her Clara closed her eyes in relief as she heard the Doctor's voice, "Clara I'm here."
She called out, "Such pain. So much pain."
"I'm sorry Clara, you need to block it out."
She breathed deeply as her mind blocked it out then she was finally able to respond, "What was that?"
"My arm is broken. The pain you feel is from me."
"Oh my stars, are you okay?"
"No I'm not okay. I have a broken arm," he responded acerbically.
"Well excuse me for being worried, maybe I should break off our connection until you are in a better mood," Clara responded harshly.
"I'm sorry, wife," he said with remorse.
"No, I'm sorry husband, I shouldn't have been short with you," she responded quietly, "Where are you now?"
"I'm not sure, we had to move quickly because of the last quake. Hold on, the Silurians Vastra sent ahead have returned."
"Okay," Clara responded before she felt him break their connection. She opened her eyes and seeing Kate's and Jenny's worried gazes she informed, "The Doctor is safe but badly injured. The Silurians that they sent ahead have returned. We are on standby."
Jenny asked quietly, "Is Vastra okay?"
"I don't know but when I speak to him again I will ask. Okay?"
"Okay," Jenny responded as she placed her head in her hands with worry.
Zekieaus and Katrina approached Vastra slightly out of breath. Zekieaus spoke first, "The recent earth shake opened a hole to the surface about ten meters in."
Katrina finished, "It's not a large hole but it can accommodate our escape." Looking around she noted that her brother's body was nowhere to be found, "Where is my brother?"
Vastra looked at her with sympathy, "I am sorry but we were unable to move his body in the rush to escape the falling rocks."
The female Silurian gills drooped in sadness as tears formed in her eyes once again, "Then my brother's soul is completely lost and his spirit is forced to roam these caves for eternity."
Zekieaus wrapped his arms around her, "It will be okay. We will speak to the elders and see what we can do to retrieve your brother from the rubble."
Vastra left the two Silurians and went back to the Doctor's side. "It seems there is an opening further into the tunnel about ten meters ahead. You should let Clara know. We will need UNIT's help to evacuate."
Nodding he closed his eyes and opened his mind to Clara again, "Love, Vastra informed me there is an exit."
Clara listened to the Doctor's directions she then repeated them to Kate and Jenny. Smiling at Jenny, she stated, "Vastra is fine."
Relieved Jenny just nodded as Kate instructed the remaining UNIT soldiers to look for a way around the crevice that opened in front of them. She then addressed Jenny and Clara, "It will take time to find a way to them, but I'll do my best to hurry things along."
"Thanks Kate," Clara said before she called out to the Doctor again, "We will meet you there, Love."
The Doctor informed Vastra, "Clara and the others will meet us at the opening."
"Good then up you go Doctor, time to move," Vastra responded as she assisted the Doctor to his feet.
The small trapped group was walking on uneven ground which caused the Doctor to wince on multiple occasions as his arm was jostled about. After one rather painful bump he stopped and kneeled on the ground and whined, "Why can't the floor be smoother? You would think with the Silurians ability to tunnel with their third eye that they could do a better job."
Bending Vastra grabbed his arm and brought him to his feet again, "Stop being such a monkey."
"I'm not a monkey," the Doctor stated with a huff of indignation.
"You are acting like a monkey so ergo you are one."
"It is a good thing Jenny loves you so, because I don't think any man would have the patience."
"That is where you are wrong Doctor, I wouldn't have the patience to deal with any man monkey. Why don't you chat with Clara and get your mind off your pain."
"I would love to but I have to traverse this infernal uneven floor."
"Well then let's move along because I don't know how much more of your groaning I can handle."
Clara followed Kate and Jenny to the rendezvous point. Thank goodness the crevice wasn't too lengthy allowing them to get to the other side quickly causing them to be delayed for only thirty minutes. As she walked she wondered how her husband was doing because the pain she sensed from him was intense, and knowing her husband she would bet ten quid that he was complaining adamantly about everything while he and Vastra moved toward the opening in the cave system.
As they reached the ground opening Clara looked down and gasped, "That is deep. How are we going to get them out of there?"
Grabbing a torch Kate kneeled and shined it down into the hole, "Good question. It has to be a minimum of twenty meters deep."
Jenny who was on the opposite side of the hole spoke up, "Kate shine your light over there."
Doing as instructed the light illuminated a long rope ladder, "I wonder why that is there."
Clara answered, "I don't know, but who cares? It is a way for them to get out."
"Yes," Kate begun as she narrowed the light beam to the cave floor, "But the ladder doesn't reach to the bottom so they are going to have scale the walls to get to it."
"That might be a problem for the Doctor because his arm is broken and I don't think he will be able to climb very well," Clara informed the UNIT lead.
"Well he isn't going to have a choice, there isn't any other way out," Kate responded before continuing, "You better inform the Doctor about what we have found."
Clara nodded and closed her eyes, "Doctor?" she smiled as she heard his response, "Yes, wife."
"We have arrived at the opening, there is a rope ladder but you will have to climb some rocks to get to it," she explained.
"That might be a bit difficult with my injured arm."
"I know but there is no other way."
"Figure out a way Clara. Got to go," he said before he closed his mind off to her again.
Sighing in irritation she stated, "He said he won't be able to climb to the ladder. I need to find a way to get him out of there," she continued as she looked around for a solution she smiled as she noticed a part of the cave wall illuminated by Kate's torch, "And there is the solution."
Kate looked at her questioningly, "What solution?"
Pointing to the lit wall Clara explained, "See that outcropping of rocks?"
"Yeah?" Kate said still confused.
"Well, we are going to cause them to fall to the ground below which should produce a large enough hill for them to climb to the ladder."
"And how do you suggest we cause the rocks to fall?"
"Isn't it standard issue for any UNIT soldier who goes out to the field to carry a small bit of plastic explosive?"
"You're not suggesting we use the plastic to blow the outcropping from the wall causing them to fall to the ground below?" Kate questioned in disbelief.
Clara smiled manically, "That is exactly what I am suggesting. Can it be done?"
Kate called out to one of the soldiers, "O'Brian, come here for a moment."
The soldier hurried to her side, "Yes ma'am?
"Is it possible to use the plastic explosive in a controlled manner to bring down those rocks?" she asked as she shined her torch on the outcropping.
O'Brian's eyes lit up, "Yes ma'am, that won't be a problem, but the ropes we have to lower someone down to the outcropping are only slated to carry approximately fifty kilograms and I have no one who we can lower safely down."
Clara stood up, "Yes you do. I can be lowered safely."
Kate protested, "I can't allow you to do that Clara, if something happens to you…"
Clara interrupted, "We have no choice Kate, I am the smallest person here and if we are going to get everyone out then I have to go down."
Sighing Kate nodded her head knowing that Clara was right, "Okay, go with the sergeant here and get harnessed up and learn what you need to do to place the explosives," as she watched Clara follow the sergeant she called out, "and don't forget to tell the Doctor what we are going to do."
Clara listened as she was told what to do and after she put on the harness she opened he mind to the Doctor one last time, "Doctor."
"Clara, I'm am trying to walk here what do you need?" he replied his voice laced with irritation.
"Shut up and listen. You and Vastra need to stop and wait until you hear from me."
"Why?"
"I am being lowered down through the opening and setting off a small explosion at a rock outcropping. Once the rocks have fallen you and the others will be able to climb up them and reach the rope ladder."
"No! Find someone else to do it."
"There is no one else, I'm the only one that is small enough to be lowered down!"
"Clara it is not safe. What if something happens to you?"
"Doctor, you told me to find a way and I found one. Stay put until you hear from me. I love you."
"Clara no!" he call out only to find that she closed their link. Shaking his head he mumbled under his breath as he quickly started to move toward the opening, "I swear she will be the death of me," speaking louder he instructed, "Vastra we need to hurry!"
"By the Goddess, why?" she asked as she and the other Silurians halted their walking. Sighing the Doctor told her Clara's plan, "And I need to stop her before she gets herself injured or worse killed."
"Zekieaus, you and the others remain here," she instructed before hurrying to catch up to the Doctor. Once she was by his side she commented in exasperation, "I swear she has learned to be reckless from you."
The Doctor stopped briefly and looked at his friend, "Don't say that."
Taking a moment to catch her breath she replied, "Well it is true, you have always been a bit reckless even as your previous self and Clara has picked up that trait."
"Unfortunately, many of our adventures merit a bit of recklessness for us to succeed in our endeavors," he countered as he started to move once more.
"That might be true Doctor, but you two are going to be parents so it might be time to reel in that less then desirable trait."
Hearing his old friend's words struck a chord with him; maybe it was time to limit their adventures to less dangerous ones and it would have to be something they needed to discuss. But one unknown caused his hearts to clinch in apprehension: would the universe allow it? But first he needed to stop Clara from doing something foolish.
Clara checked and re-checked the harness she was wearing and with a nod of her head to the sergeant she lowered herself slowly over the edge of the opening. She felt a jerk as the ropes strained with her weight and in a calm voice she commanded, "Okay O'Brian start lowering me down."
The descent seemed to take forever but soon she was facing the outcropping, gingerly she pulled out the plastic explosive. Using her fingers she carefully pushed the malleable material into a few large cracks along the rock wall. She was about to push the charge into the end of plastic explosive when she was startled by the Doctor's voice, "Clara Oswald what the hell are you doing?"
She grabbed her torch and shined it down onto the cave floor illuminating the Doctor, "I told you what I was doing. The question is why you are here before I called for you?" she yelled.
"Trying to stop you from being foolish," he called back.
"Doctor, I told you this was the only way for you to reach the rope ladder. Now take cover because I'm about to place the charge."
"Clara, this is not safe," he responded as he gestured toward her and the ropes that held her precariously above the rocky floor.
"No, what is not safe is you being there when this explosion goes off. Now back away so I can finish and get back to solid ground." With her statement she placed the charge and called up, "Pull me up the explosives are ready."
As she slowly ascended the Doctor watched apprehensively, hoping everything would be okay, he jumped as he heard Clara scream "What's happening?" he yelled.
Clara felt the rope give way and when she looked up she noticed the line holding her was fraying as it was dragged across the sharp edges of the cave opening. Knowing that the rope would give way any moment she started to swing to and fro hoping to use her momentum and grab the ladder on the other wall. With one final swing the rope holding her snapped causing her to scream.
The Doctor yelled, "CLARA!" as debris and dust fell on him from the power of the rope snapping blocking his view of his beloved. As the dust settled he felt his hearts clinch in agony as he whispered, "Clara no."
Suddenly he felt astonishing relief as Clara's voice echoed in the cavern, "I'm okay."
The Doctor looked up through the dust and saw her clinging to the rope ladder, "Bloody hell, woman!"
"Such language, Doctor," she said with a chuckle before continuing, "I hope our children will never hear that."
"I swear Clara, you almost caused me to die and regenerate."
Hearing the fear in his voice her joviality gave way to concern, "I'm sorry."
"Just climb out, so we can go home," he responded despondently as he turned away to take cover deeper into the tunnels, Vastra following closely behind and when they were at a safe distance she simply stated, "Reckless."
"Shut up Vastra!"
Clara climbed out with a heavy heart and when she reached the surface she commanded, "It's time to remotely detonate the plastic."
With a nod of his head O'Brian called out, "Fire in the hole. Fire in the hole!"
Clara took cover with the others as the ground shook with the explosion and a loud crash resounded in the air. Once the all clear was given Clara, Jenny and Kate approached the edge to see if their plan worked.
Shining the torch down Kate confirmed, "It seemed to have worked."
"Good." Was all Clara said as she moved away from the opening and sat under one of the trees, opening he mind to the Doctor she reported, "You can get out now."
"I know," he said as he closed his mind to her.
Bringing her hands to her face, Clara started to cry.
Following the rescue, the return to the underground hub was bittersweet for Clara; she was happy that everyone got out okay but she felt strongly the void between her and the Doctor. In amongst the kisses that Vastra and Jenny shared and the congratulations that took place between the soldiers of UNIT and their leader Kate and the happy reunions of the Silurians with their loved ones, the Doctor remained distant and aloof to her, no embracing or kissing was done between the two of them. He didn't even want her in the medical room as they set his broken arm, and he didn't ask for her before he put himself into a healing coma.
Three days later the Doctor emerged from his hospital room fully healed, yet he still didn't acknowledge her, even in the slightest, as she stood by his side while he, Vastra and Kate made plans to retrieve the dead from the caves, help with further evacuations, and relocate the Wenley Moor Silurians.
Two days later Clara was sitting on her bed in her temporary domicile, as the Doctor entered the room, "Time to go home."
Not moving from her spot Clara asked quietly, "What are we going to do now?"
"Like I said, go home."
"No, husband that is not what I'm talking about. What are we going to do about us?" she gestured between them, "You haven't touched me or kissed me since you emerged from the cave. Hell you have barely acknowledge me," she finished with tears in her eyes.
"What do you want me to say Clara? That I am proud of you. That I am happy you risked your life to save us?"
"That would be a good start," she said.
"Well I can't say those things. You were reckless and didn't think things through."
Feeling the frustrations of the past week come to the surface she stated harshly, "That was the only way to get you out. I would have thought that you would be glad I came up with a plan so you wouldn't injure your arm further."
"Yes, you did come up with a brilliant solution but did you ever stop to think of what would happen to our children if you died or what would happen to me? Did you even consider how your death would affect those who love you? " he said as his own frustration and anger consumed him.
"But I didn't die. Everything turned out okay," Clara insisted.
"That is beside the point and you didn't answer my question, did you even think about the others around you?"
"No, I guess not but I had to save you," she answered quietly.
"And that is the problem," the Doctor stated with a sigh as he sat next to her on her bed before continuing, "I regenerate, you don't. You can't keep being so reckless. You only have one life to live Clara and I will not have you throw it away to save me."
"But I have to make sure to keep you safe," Clara stated as she looked down at her hands.
"Why?" he asked as his hands engulfed hers.
Her breath hitched before she replied, "Because, you may not love me any more if you regenerate."
He shook his head, as he understood now why she risked her life for him, "Oh my Clara, I will never stop loving you."
"How can you say that? We just become faded memories to you when we are gone."
"Yes, Clara all those I have loved do become faded memories but it doesn't mean I don't love those memories any less." He cupped her cheek and explained, "All those who I have loved, I still love and will always love till the end of my days. Rose, Martha, Donna, Amy, River and so many others have a special place in my hearts just as you do. My love for them and you will never change no matter how many times I regenerate."
Clara leaned forward and placed her forehead against his, "So you're saying that the love you have for me is shared with others."
He kissed her lips softly. "That is exactly what I'm saying and even when you're gone the next person that comes along that I love will have to share me with you. However, that doesn't mean I want you to die prematurely. I want to love you for many years, Clara Oswald."
"And I want to love you for just as many years, Doctor," Clara responded as she placed her own kiss on his lips before continuing, "But I don't want you to regenerate any time soon. I like this version of you."
"Even better then bow tie boy?" he said with a smirk.
"Yes, Doctor even better than your previous self," she said with a smile then on a more somber note she finished, "and I promise that I will not do anything more reckless if you promise to do the same."
"I can't promise that to you Clara, time and space will always need the Doctor." Seeing her face fall in disappointment he hurriedly amended, "But I can promise you that I will be more cautious for the next few years as our children grow up."
She smiled at him and replied, "I guess that will have to do. But right now I don't need the Doctor, I need my husband to make love to me."
Guiding her till she lay prone on the bed, he caressed her skin under her blouse. He enveloped her lips with his and when their lips parted from their passionate embrace he smiled cheekily at her, "I think I can manage that, wife."
So tell me what you think I am craving some feedback...Cheers flydye8/heintz571