Danny was stood by the sink when he felt Clara's arms slide around him. He smiled, turning around in her grasp to face her. "Morning sleepyhead," he said before kissing her.
"Cheeky, how come you got up so early anyway, if we're going to be forced off work we might as well make the most of the lie ins," Clara chuckled a little before taking in his facial expression, "did you sleep?"
"A little," Danny replied, "it's fine. You want tea?" he managed to escape over to the kettle, but Clara followed as he flicked it on.
"Something's wrong," she stated, not asking - just telling. "Danny talk to me," she took his hand, stopping him from reaching for the mugs.
"I'm just," she glared at him, "alright, I had a couple of bad dreams last night, that's all - just bad dreams, mind going a little mad, you know the drill." Clara raised an eyebrow and he sighed, "I can't stop thinking about what could have happened, the way you were when I found you…" she stopped him with a kiss, soft but deep enough to tell him everything he needed to know. "You have to talk to the police today," Clara kissed him again.
"Stop worrying, it won't be easy, but I've got you haven't I? You're all I need - we're in this together. I love you, Danny Pink, and you're all I need. Well that and tea so get on that because I need to make myself look half decent for this interview," she grinned and let him go.
When they arrived at the station she was far from the bouncy Clara that Danny had seen earlier that morning. She gripped his hand tight as they waited for the detective to appear, leaning her head on his shoulder. Danny kept an arm around her, rubbing her other arm softly and occasionally kissing the top of her head.
"It'll be fine, you just have to tell them what happened and we can go home. I'll run you a bath, it'll be over," he kissed her head again.
"It won't though will it? This is just the beginning," she sighed.
"Maybe, but we're in this together," Danny told her and Clara nodded gently, suddenly looking up when the door opened and the detective walked in.
"Miss Oswald?" she checked and Clara confirmed, "I'm Detective Inspector Grason, we're going to go through to the interview room now. Given the circumstances we can allow your fiancé to come into the interview room with you. The lawyer you arranged is in there too," Clara looked a little confused.
"I called in a favour," Danny explained and Clara smiled thankfully, she hadn't even considered the legal side. "You can talk to them first, I'll join you in 10 minutes," DI Grason led her through to the interview room and left her to talk with the lawyer who took her through what was going to happen.
10 minutes later, as promised, DI Grason reappeared and sat down. Danny sat beside her, Clara squeezed his hand. She wasn't allowed to talk to Danny, but she was grateful for his presence - that was, until the questions started.
"Miss Oswald, can you talk us through how the situation unfolded," DI Grason asked and Clara explained about the emails and the calls. She got as far as Fraser visiting Danny, but then she stopped, glancing over at Danny. She hadn't told him the details about what Fraser did to her, only now did it occur to her that this is where he was going to hear it. "Clara, is everything okay?" she asked her. Clara looked back around to Grason and bit her lip.
"Can we take a break?" she asked, her head suddenly spinning.
"Of course, 10 minutes?" Clara nodded and DI Grason leant over to pause the recording. "We'll give you some space, Mr Fielding do you want to come with me?" Her lawyer stood up and followed the detective out.
"Clara what's going on?" Danny asked as soon as he could, "you were doing really well," he turned round on his chair to face her and took her other hand. Clara eventually turned to face him too.
"You knew all that stuff," she spoke quietly, "you've been so worried - I don't want you to know everything it wouldn't be fair on you, you'd have more bad dreams and I can't do that to you." Danny leant over and hugged her as Clara gave in and let the tears fall. "I'm gonna have to see him again Danny, you're gonna have to see him…"
"Clara look at me, just look," he managed to persuade her to sit up a little and look him in the eyes. He lifted her left hand up and rubbed his thumb over her engagement ring. "This means something Clara - it means that we go through life together now. Whatever happened, whatever is going to happen, it's my burden too. Stop worrying about me, I've had worse nightmares as well you know," he told her.
"You don't need anymore," Clara spoke through tears that Danny wiped away.
"Clara stop! Whether I hear it now or at the trial I'm going to find out, I want to know! I want to know what's upsetting you, please sweetheart," Danny kissed her softly, "you can do this." Clara kept eye contact with him and nodded a little. "I love you, I'm right here and you can do this."
"Okay, alright, let's get on with this so we can go home," Clara sat back and looked to the door where DI Grason and Mr Fielding were stood waiting. Mr Fielding came in first, sitting down.
"Is everything alright?" he asked and Clara nodded.
"Yes, everything is fine, sorry. Let's get this done?" he nodded and gestured for DI Grason to come back in. "Thank you for giving me the break," Clara told her.
"No problem, I appreciate this is far from easy for you," she restarted the recording. "So you left for work the morning after Mr Pink walked out?" Danny looked down a little but Clara squeezed his hand.
"Yes, I left about 10 to 8," she replied.
"And Fraser was following you?"
"Yes, I didn't know it was him, but I worked out the car was following me. I tried going different ways to get away but it's like… like he wanted me to go that direction. I started to panic, I lost control of the car…" she had to stop as her breathing rate rose.
"Take all the time you need, talk us through what happened next when you're ready," Clara looked to Danny who nodded at her.
"You don't have to say anything Miss Oswald," Mr Fielding commented.
"No, it's fine," Clara looked back across the table, "the next thing I know I was in the house - Tom's house. Fraser was there, he started shouting about how I'd taken Danny on the holiday we'd booked and how I was betraying Tom. he turned his back for a moment and I tried to get out but he stopped me, he pushed me against the door, wouldn't let me go," Clara could feel Danny tense up beside her, "he forced me upstairs and locked me in Tom's bedroom, there was a DVD playing - Tom made it for us. So many memories… he got to me, I tried but he got to me, I couldn't escape it, all those feelings came back and I felt so scared and alone. He came back in, with food, kept talking about Tom. Then he got the letter out," her voice was wobbling as she spoke.
"That would be this letter," DI Grayson picked up a bag from behind her and put it on the table - with the letter in. Clara immediately looked away and leant in to Danny. "Miss Oswald, I'm sorry I need you to confirm?"
"You can do this," Danny whispered to her, not loud enough for any of the others to hear as he wasn't meant to be speaking. Clara finally sat up and looked round.
"Yes, that's it," as soon as she could she looked away, "when I finished the letter I couldn't move, I just lay there. Fraser came back in, he sat on the bed, stroked my arm, I couldn't move away. He kept going, I couldn't do anything, but then you arrived… he ran, then all I remember is Danny and then home… that's it," she reached the end and sat back.
"Well done Miss Oswald, that's all very helpful, I just have a couple more questions before we finish - if that's okay with you both?" she looked to Mr Fielding and Clara in turn, both of whom confirmed. "You said that Fraser stroked your arm and he kept going, what did you mean by that?" Clara stiffened and looked to Danny who had definitely got paler.
"Nothing… nothing happened. You arrived just after, nothing happened and I don't know if anything would. That's enough isn't it? Please I don't want to talk anymore. You've heard everything, I just want to get back home." DI Grayson ended the recording and stood up.
"You can go, thank you - I know that was far from easy for you. You can go home, we'll be in contact in due course, mostly through Mr Fielding. I'll leave you now, Mr Fielding will show you out shortly," DI Grayson nodded and left after shaking their hands.
"Miss Oswald," he started, but Clara sighed.
"Clara, please, Miss Oswald is what I get called by my students," she sighed.
"Clara, I'm sorry, listen we all just want to help here. What Mr… Fraser, what Fraser has done is wrong and it should be very simple to bring the case against him. I appreciate this is difficult for you, that it brings some difficult memories back, but you've done brilliantly already. This is more than enough for one day, that much I appreciate, we will talk again soon once things have progressed. You have my number?" Danny responded for her, nodding. "Then I'll show you out."
#-#-#-#
They arrived home in silence, Clara opened the door to the house and went inside, immediately going to the kitchen to make tea.
"Clara, talk to me," Danny stopped her in her tracks, holding her arms, "it's okay, you did really well in there,"
"I'm fed up of being told I did well! I just spoke, just said what happened, it's not like I got an A in my coursework is it?!" Clara shrugged him off and went back to the kettle. "Speaking of which I want to get back to work, take my mind off things."
Danny shook his head, sighing, "you've been signed off till next week Clara, you can't go back even if you wanted - you know the rules. You know what I heard in there changes nothing right? You don't have to be scared or ashamed, it's okay," he told her.
"How can it be okay?! How can we ever be okay after this?" Clara kicked the side and then slid down the side, sitting on the floor. Danny joined her. "You've seen how much I still miss him, how much it still affects me, how can you still want me?"
"The same reason I've always wanted you, because I love you, because I know your past and I know how much you miss Tom, but I still love you. Because everyday I see that whatever happened, you still love me. How do I know? Because you're scared right now. If you didn't love me then you wouldn't care about losing me, but you are, that's what I see Clara. I love you, more than anything I really love you and I want to help you through this. None of today changes that, not one little bit, it's just you and me now and whatever happens I'm going nowhere," Danny kissed her head softly but meaningfully. Clara wiped her eyes and looked up at him, "You're everything to me," Clara kissed him before he could continue.
"i don't know what the hell I would do without you," she hugged in to him on the floor. "Can we make tea and just relax on the sofa? That's all I really want to do."
#-#-#-#
When Danny woke on Monday morning Clara was already up and dressed. She was sat on the chair in the corner of the room, barely having left his side since the incident had occurred. He sat up, looking at her working away on her laptop.
"Are you sure you're ready to work?" Danny asked.
"Good morning to you too," Clara replied, shutting the lid of her laptop. "I'm fine, just woke up early. You should get up anyway, I need to get in and sort things out - goodness knows what state my room will be in." Danny rolled his eyes as she walked towards the bed and managed to grab her hand and pull her on to the bed. Clara squealed a little but didn't move once she was sat down on the bed.
"Did you sleep?" he asked, looking her directly in the eyes.
"Danny I told you I'm fine," she smiled but he didn't.
"That's not an answer to the question," he replied.
"I'm fine," she said again, lifting his hand and kissing it gently, "now get up or I'll leave without you," she stood up again.
"Only if you make me tea," Danny gave in and grinned.
"Fine, I'll put the kettle on and see you downstairs," Clara left the room and Danny finally got up and ready.
When he got downstairs Danny held back from going into the kitchen and watched as Clara stood alone looking out of the window. He knew she wasn't really fine and he couldn't say he was that happy about her going back, but there was nothing more he could say to stop her. He spotted how she kept looking back, waiting for him to arrive. He wasn't stupid, he knew how much she was struggling to cope without him around - like she was scared what might happen if she was alone. It hurt him to see her like that and that was a big part of the reason he didn't want her back at work.
Eventually he made himself visible and walked in, immediately seeing the change in her face as Clara presented him with tea. They had breakfast together and chatted as if it was a normal day, heading into work relatively early. When they reached Clara's room they stopped - generally this was where they split but Clara hesitated before she opened the door. She could feel her heart starting to race again as it had done many times since the events of the previous week. Danny was looking at her a little concerned and Clara knew she had to get herself together or at least come up with a solution. It was the latter option she went for.
"Can you help me get the room sorted? I have the departmental meeting in 15 minutes and it looks like nobody bothered tidying at all last week," she sighed and Danny chuckled.
"You are far too picky Mrs Pink, but as you wish," he smiled and followed her in. Clara took a silent but deep breath of relief that he would be around until the meeting.
Danny didn't say anything to Clara, but he knew what she was doing. They tidied the room together, messing about in the usual way. They started chucking a bit of paper that Clara had found on the floor at each other. Just as Clara threw it back the door opened and Adrian walked in, unwittingly walking into the path of the flying ball of paper. Both of them laughed as he stood there looking a little shocked.
"Dare I ask?" Adrian asked. Both of them shook their heads, "you're actual children sometimes I swear. Just letting you know I'm here anyway, I'll be back in a minute or two," Adrian looked at Danny who nodded slightly.
"I'd better get my own room sorted. You okay?" He asked.
"Yeah course, see you later, have a good morning," she kissed him quickly before he grabbed his bag and left.
Danny went straight down to Adrian's room and joined him. He was looking hopeful but Danny shook his head. "It was mostly an act in there. She's not okay, she's barely left my side in the last few days - even this morning I woke up to find her sat in the corner of the bedroom working - something she'd normally have done downstairs. This morning she asked me to go in and help her tidy which again she'd normally never do. I'm pretty sure she doesn't know I've realised, but I'm really unsure about her ability to work today."
Adrian could see he was worried. "Danny relax, Clara's strong and I will watch her like a hawk today," he patted him on the back. "Go get yourself sorted - I've got a meeting to get to."
Danny smiled and thanked him before making his way off to his own room. He'd only been gone for 30 seconds when Adrian looked up to see Clara at his door, "missed me that much?" Clara chuckled and walked in.
"Ran out of things to do, you want to fill me in on what I missed?" she asked, leaning against the wall inside his room.
"Not a lot really, same old same old. How're you doing?" he asked, organising his desk.
"Yeah fine thanks, glad to be back if I'm honest," she smiled.
"And the real answer?" Adrian flicked his computer screen off and turned to face her, "you might be fooling Danny but I've known you a long time Clara Oswald." As much as he hated lying, it was best that she didn't click on to Danny just yet.
"I'm fine! Adrian honestly, the interview was absolutely awful but everything is back to normal now. We had a lovely few days off, it was really nice. Anyway, time to give you lot hell - you coming?" Adrian rolled his eyes and walked over, gently pushing her out the door as Clara chuckled and they made their way back to her room.
The bell for breaktime had hardly finished ringing when Clara appeared at Danny's door. He was quite proud that she'd managed her lessons but sighed internally when he spotted her waiting for his class to leave, putting on a smile.
"Good morning?" he asked as Clara shut the door behind her.
"Always, Monday mornings are lovely anyway - year 8 and 7. How about you?" she asked, hopping up on his desk.
"Same old same old, I love my job really," he grinned and stood in front of her. "You gonna help me clear up or just sit there?" Danny took her hands and pulled her off the desk. "Unless you fancy going ahead and making tea, I'm gasping."
"2 people are quicker than 1," she smiled and kissed him quickly, "I'll sort the books." Danny nodded, letting her hands go so she could make a start while he organised his desk. He watched her out of the corner of his eye, flitting around the room as she grabbed books as if nothing was wrong. Maybe she was doing better, maybe he was worrying too much, after all she'd got through the morning okay. "Hey am I the only one doing any work here?" Clara asked as she put the books back in his cupboard.
"Sorry, a little distracted," he smiled and followed her in to the cupboard, kissing her softly.
"I thought you wanted tea," she wrapped her arms around his waist, grinning.
"I want you more," Danny replied, "you're gorgeous, you know that?" he kissed her again but Clara stopped, looking a little confused.
"Danny I love you but we're at work, where's this come from?" she asked and he smiled, "don't grin at me like that you cheeky beggar."
"Relax I'm not exactly planning on doing it in the cupboard, you just look irresistable today," he let go, "time for tea?" Clara nodded and they both headed off to the staffroom, but that kiss had told Danny something he feared - something wasn't right.
#-#-#-#
It was almost lunchtime, Danny was beginning to think he'd misread the situation. He'd not heard anything from Clara or Adrian and she had her worst class this period. Thankfully his year 9 class were being well behaved and generally getting on with their work.
Clara rubbed her head as she tried to concentrate on the lesson plan for the afternoon, she hated herself for not having done it last week. Her year 10s were clearly not going to give her the time or the space and evidently they didn't fancy doing their coursework either. She gave up on her lesson plan and stood up.
"Is there something difficult about this for you Matthew?" she walked in the direction of the main troublemaker who was currently facing the wrong way to talk to his mate.
"It's not even English!" he shouted back at her.
"Oh is that where I've been going wrong all this time? Thank you for enlightening me," she rolled her eyes.
"No need for sarcasm miss," he tutted, "just sayin' it don't make sense."
"Well if you paid more attention in previous lessons you might have a better idea now don't you think?" Clara responded.
"Why you picking on me anyway?! I'm not the only one not working," he stood up, his chair pushed away by his motion and squaring up to her, "besides, you're the one that pissed off all of last week," he seethed. Clara took a step back, trying not to show that her heart rate had suddenly increased. Matthew wasn't the smallest of pupils and his confrontation brought back unwanted memories. She'd been coping okay - lessons were a good distraction and Danny was there outside those hours. "Oi you lost your voice Miss?" he reached out to tap her on the shoulder but Clara instinctively pushed his hand away. "Hey! You can't touch me!"
"Rule works both ways!" she shouted back at him. "Get back to your work!" she faced the whole class quickly before walking out. Once she had left the room she lost control, her breathing rate increased and she could feel herself panicking. Clara took deep breaths, wiping at her eyes and quickly headed off in the direction of Danny's room. As soon as she was there she knocked on the door, trying to keep calm enough while his class were looking. Danny looked up and saw her, instructing his class to continue while he was gone.
Danny came outside, shutting the door behind him and moving round the corner so they were out of sight. "What's happened?" he asked but Clara just hugged in to him, unable to talk. "Clara, has something happened? Talk to me baby," he stroked her hair.
"He was playing up, I just tried to stop him touching me, he's so tall and all I could think of was Fraser I didn't mean it I just freaked out," she was breaking down and Danny could see what he'd been afraid of all morning. He spotted Fiona walking by and quickly stopped her.
"Can you take over mine for the last 10 minutes? No questions," she quickly nodded and went inside his classroom. "Staffroom, let's get you out of the corridor before lunch, is anyone with your class?" Clara shook her head. "Can you make your own way while I sort them out then?" she shook her head again and he nodded. "Alright sweetheart, okay. Look at me, you're safe. He can't hurt you anymore, I won't let him," he held her gently and supported her as they made their way to the staffroom. Thankfully when they got there is was near enough empty with only Jemma sat in the corner. "Ah good, can you go and finish up with Clara's year 10s? And whatever story they want to give you just tell them to speak to Adrian?"
"Of course, is everything okay?" she asked and Danny nodded, making it obvious that Clara didn't want anymore saying. Jemma appreciated that and quickly left.
"Tell me exactly what happened Clara, who upset you?" Danny sat her down.
"Matthew Grieves, he was playing up, I confronted him but he just kept back chatting and then he stood up and I think he was going to tap me on the shoulder or something I don't know but I pushed his hand away and then he started shouting and I had to get out, I kept it calm in there but my heart was racing and I could see Fraser in my mind I had to get out," she kicked the table in frustration. "I shouldn't be getting like this, they're just my pupils, I've never had this issue before!"
"You'd never been abducted by your dead fiancé's brother before either, it's a big thing Clara…" he sighed gently and pulled her closer and kissed her head.
"I was fine though," she hugged him.
"Clara you've barely left my side in a week, even this morning you wouldn't let me go until Adrian had arrived and I don't remember the last time I woke up to you sat working in the corner. I'm not stupid," he told her honestly.
"I was kidding myself, I was trying to kid you. I just wanted to be back at work," Clara leant in to his grasp. "I'm so sorry."
"Don't say that, you don't have to be sorry, you're allowed to be upset," he stroked her hair softly.
"But how do I get through this?" she asked.
"We get through this," he kissed her softly, "together."