"For the last time, I am not taking a job in Liverpool!" Clara Oswald shouted, looking to stare out the window of the passenger side of Danny Pink's car. The school was on midterm brake, and Clara had been looking forward to some "quality time" with Danny. She'd even extracted a promise from the Doctor not to take her on any journeys in the Tardis for the duration. She'd owed it to Danny, she'd said, especially after he'd helped wit that business with the forest, and the Time Lord had agreed. They'd even gone a few days without any mention of the Doctor and related arguments.

And then Danny had dropped a bombshell on her while they were driving back to his house with groceries.

"Clara," Danny started, "we're not taking the job, just checking out the school. It might be good for a change. I just think-"

"Don't start! You just want to get me away from the Doctor."

"Well, yes."

"Are you daft? Have you been paying attention? Or are you just keeping your head in the sand? He's a bloody time traveler from another bloody planet! The Tardis can travel from one side the universe to the other quicker than you can take a roundabout. He could sunbathe at the Big Bang, cool off at the end of time, and then land *inside* Elizabeth the First's throne room for afternoon tea before heading back to the school to tackle another sentient computer virus. That's his typical Thursday. And you think going to Liverpool is going to be a problem for him? Only if the Tardis decides to be a cow and land him in the wrong year! And yeah, she's like that."

"Well, he's been borderline stalking, so I was thinking of a restraining order-"

"A restraining order? Against him? Who's going to enforce it? How can we lock him out? The only place I know of where you can't land the Tardis is UNIT's HQ under the tower of London. But those are his friends, so you might not want that." She rubbed her forehead. "I cannot believe I am having this conversation."

"Clara, I love you. And I worry about you. I'm worried the Doctor will get you killed."

"I love you, too, Danny, and I am sorry I have ever lied to you. But you don't want to see the bind you've put me in. The Doctor is my best friend. Hell, I'm practically the only family he's got. His home is gone. He sent it into another universe. I was there. He can go anywhere, and yet he's got nowhere to go. I care about both of you, and I need both of you in my life. But as long as you keep snarling at each other you put me in a position of walking a tightrope I don't want to be on. This brilliant idea of moving to Liverpool doesn't help." She smiled slightly. "He's a bit like you, y'know? Bit of a rebel. Actually has a problem with authority figures. You might like him if you give him a chance."

"Oh, I've given him a chance, Clara. You have no idea. As long as he brings you back safe, I'm good. But putting aside how dangerous what he does is, and the fact that that kind of life has an expiration date, you can't burn the candle at both ends forever. You'll have to choose one day. Can't be helped."

"Well, it's not today. So let's not have another word about it. He promised us the week. Let's no worry about anything else, ok?"

They'd pulled into Danny's driveway. As they got out of the car, Danny started to say, "Well, at least think about what I-"

His phone chimed. He glanced down at it. There was one text message:

'You will meet me behind the garage now. You will not tell Clara.'

Danny scowled. The message had no name, but he could guess who it was from. So the Doctor wanted a chat? About time; the Time "Lord" would finally get a piece of his mind.

"What I said," Danny finished. He headed for the garage.

"Oi!" Clara called from the trunk. "Where're you going?"

"Just have to check something. I'll be back to help in a minute."

"Ok."

Danny started just as he came around the back of the garage: "All right, Doctor, what-" He broke off and stopped in his tracks. It wasn't the doctor. It was a man in some kind of silver armor; only his face was exposed. And it looked like his own face.

"What…" Danny said. "Who are you?" He took a step forward.

The armored man took a step back. "Do not touch me. That will have detrimental effects on both of us." The voice sounded like his, but emotionless.

Danny stopped. "You didn't answer my question. Who are you?"

"I am you. I am what you will become."

"Because of the Doctor?" Danny's anger flared. "Did he…will he conduct some kind of experiment on me?"

"Incorrect. More I cannot say. You will put this meeting out of your mind when you talk to Clara."

"Or else?"

"Or nothing. I did it. You will do it. You will not refuse your assignment from UNIT. You will work with the Doctor."

"Are you mad? I don't even like the guy! You know that, right?"

"Yes, but you do not have to like him to do what's required of you. Your personal feelings do not negate his strategic importance. You will now ask me what the point of all this is."

"Yeah! Why should I work with him in UNIT? Can you tell me anything?"

"Earth's darkest hour is approaching. The Doctor will play a pivotal role in saving the human race, but only if he thinks it is worth saving. He must have hope."

"What does that have to do with me?"

"When the Doctor loses hope, you will direct him to fly the Tardis to a vantage point of the Tower Bridge, 1630 GMT the next day."

"All on your say-so."

"On *your* say-so. You misunderstand, Danny. I am not commanding. I am remembering what I did. I am remembering this meeting. This is what the Doctor calls 'timey-wimey.'" The armored version of himself smiled slightly. "You will just have to trust yourself."

Danny pondered, then said, "Will Clara be safe?"

"She will be unharmed when it is all over." His armored other self touched a control on his wrist. "You will not fail." He disappeared in a flash of silver light.

Danny frowned. 'What did he mean, "Unharmed when it's all over"?' he thought. 'Well, Danny, have you ever lied to yourself?'

Clara came around the corner of the garage. "Danny? Who's there?"

"No one."

"I thought you were talking to someone."

"I was talking to myself. Only one who listens to me, I expect."

"That sounds very Doctorian, if that's a word."

He smiled. "No need to insult-" Then he looked past Clara towards the front of his house. "What's that all about?"

A couple of black SUVs had pulled up in front of the house. As Clara and Danny came over to them, Clara recognized the blonde woman leading the group. "Kate!" She called. "What's going on?"

Kate Lethbridge-Stewart smiled. "Ah, Clara, good. We don't have to look for you. The Doctor has been sent for and will meet us back at HQ. I hope. And hopefully, we'll just get one of him. And Mr. Daniel Pink, I presume. Saved me the trouble of tracking you down." Kate thrust an envelope into Danny's hands. "Congratulations. You've just been reactivated."