Ok, so I already had part of this one written, so that explains the fast turnaround. I was also inspired by the reviews you guys left me, I'm glad that you are amused by idea. Not going to lie, I'm really looking forward to next week's episode. A whole episode about Clara stuck in the TARDIS who doesn't like her? Should be interesting. Anyway, here's the next chapter!
Dobby's Polka-Dotted Sock
Chapter Two
There is, in fact, an umbrella stand. Or rather, there is for him.
It's practically pouring, and she laughs as he leads them back through slippery grass in the dark. He's looped her arm in his and holds the umbrella over them, quite unsuccessfully due to his clumsy nature so that they're drenched by the time they're to the ship. He holds the door for her and she happily skips inside to the dry warmth of the console room.
She hears him enter after her, but what makes her freeze is the muted thud of someone dropping something into a container. Clara turns around to see the umbrella sitting innocently in an umbrella stand placed right next to the door.
"What is that?" She asks before he even has the chance to get around her and to the controls. The Doctor blinks and his shoes squeak as he twists to see what she's pointing at. He glances back at her uncertainly and points too, as if to check.
"That?" She merely nods, and he looks even more confused, if slightly worried. "That, er, Clara, is an umbrella stand. It was invented—on Earth—in the—"
"I know that," she snaps, not in the mood for one of his rambling speeches about history. 'I meant what is it doing there?"
"It appears to be holding the umbrella."
"Oi, no need to be smart," she swats him lightly on the arm, causing him to chuckle, the ridiculous man. "Did you put this here?" It's the most logical assumption she can make.
Yet he confounds her by shaking his head. "No it's always been there."
"No it hasn't," she disagrees immediately, and his lips pull into a frown.
"Of course it has; the TARDIS doesn't like getting wet any more than we do."
"Well then why did she allow me to get her 'soaked' as you put it that last time?" She places one hand to her hip as he fumbles a bit, spinning around himself to look at her then the console then the umbrella stand, twirling back the other way as if to make absolutely certain.
"But it's always been there!" He exclaims, and is met with her frustrated groan. "It has! What sort of ship would this be without an umbrella stand anyway? You must not have been looking enough.
Her jaw drops and she lets a single disbelieving laugh escape. "I must not have? If you remember as I do, Doctor, you looked yourself and couldn't find it. Said you were going mad," she adds, wondering not for the first time if that's the single most honest thing he's said to her.
"Maybe I did, but it's back now. You didn't put it there and I didn't put it there, so it must have always been there—unless I'm going mad, but you can't go mad twice, Clara."
"Pretty sure you defy that rule, actually," she quips and he smirks.
"Probably. But, that still doesn't solve this little conundrum of yours, does it?" He cups his incredibly large chin in his hand, obviously thinking about it. As much as she's glad he's putting some effort behind this one, she's already got a theory of her own. She's not sure if he'll like it, though.
"Doctor?"
"Hm?"
"Is it possible that the TARDIS might have put it there?"
He looks at her strangely. "Well of course she put it there, she puts everything everywhere."
"I'm sorry?" She blinks, not sure if it's shock or fear that causes her voice to rise an octave.
He gives a somewhat exasperated huff, but is mostly amused as he takes her by the hand, leading her up to the console. "Clara, everything you see here and beyond: the corridors, the wardrobe, the- the kitchen—was made by the TARDIS. She furnishes each room based upon the needs of the user. Thus," he gestures back behind them, "umbrella stand by the door."
She turns her head to look and her eyes narrow in suspicion. "Then I think I know what happened; she took it away when I needed it."
"Oh, will you stop this silly—"
"It isn't silly, it's true! I'll prove it," she declares, marching to the door and grabbing up the umbrella. Wrenching the door open, a spray of rainwater hits her before she can put the umbrella up, but she steps out determinedly. Of course, instead of making a dramatic reentrance, she has to rap on the blue wood impatiently until he starts out of his stunned stupor.
The Doctor steps to the side to allow her through, and she darts around him to find—nothing. "See?" She cries in triumph as he gapes.
"Where did it—?" Dumbfounded, he accepts the umbrella from her as she nods to herself, satisfied. At least until he says, "oh, wait, here it is."
"What?" She whirls back around, horrified to see the umbrella stand sitting right where it had been before she went back outside. "How—?"
"Well, I just was looking around and I glanced back and it was there," he seems just as puzzled as her until he shrugs. "Ah well, we must not have noticed it."
"We didn't notice it because it wasn't there!" She knows she's getting worked up by the way he's eyeing her warily, the umbrella still dripping in his hands—his hands. "She put it back because of you," she gasps in realization. "See, this ship really doesn't like me!"
"Clara, let's not be unreasonable—"
"I'm not- achoo! -being unreasonable," she gives a little sneeze midsentence, not really thinking anything of it. Not until he dumps the umbrella and is suddenly standing before her with his hands on her shoulders.
"Oh, Clara, what was I thinking letting you stand around in those wet clothes. And arguing with you, too—stupid Doctor!" He scoops her up in his arms without a second thought, something she would normally protest, or at least tease him for.
But Clara lets him tend to her for the rest of the night, quite content with the knowledge that he's taking care of her and not the old cow. And it she fakes a few extra sneezes or a cough, it isn't as if he needs to know.
And here we have Clara sort of winning this one, even if the umbrella issue hasn't really been resolved. So yeah, not much else to say about it, thanks again for reading and please review!
