December 2nd

The last thing she'd expected upon awakening was to see the big blue box still parked in the corner of her little bedroom. She was sure it had been a dream. She was sure it had just been one big fantasy her aching subconscious had created. But there it stood, tearing down every previous assumption.

She was a bit hesitant crawling out of bed and inching herself closer to the doors. It was surprising to find them unlocked, easily swinging open at the slight shove she gave.

The Doctor lay on his back beneath the console, messing with various wires and silicone strips that stuck out at different angles from inside a little panel that opened from the base. Completely immersed in his work, he took no notice of Clara slowly approaching her side. When she cleared her throat to announce her presence, he jumped in surprise, wincing and rubbing his head dramatically after whacking it on the underside of the console. He cursed under his breath, sliding on from beneath and dusting himself of as he rose to his feet. "Hi." He stated gruffly.

Clara folded her arms over her chest and leaned against the railing right inside the doors. "You're still here." She acknowledged.

He huffed. "Did you not pay any attention last night? I'm stuck. TARDIS is jacked up." He kicked the console in frustration, muffling his groan of pain into his palm as he hopped on one foot over to the jump seat. "She won't let me fly off."

She gave a little hum of understanding, shifting her feet around slightly. "So what are you gonna do?"

"Nothing I can do, really. Its some sort of bug inside the system. She has to work it out herself." He shrugged. "Just have to wait, I suppose."

"You got a bedroom in here, then? Somewhere you can sleep?"

"'Course I do. But for some reason she's sealed off each corridor entrance. Must just be another glitch." He shot the machine a scowl, irritated at her for not behaving properly.

Clara gave a mere halfhearted chuckle, staring at the floor and considering. "So, what you're saying is that you don't have a place to sleep."

"I don't need sleep. I'm a Time Lord." He reminded her with a little prideful smirk. "But if I did, then sure. You're right. No place to sleep."

She watched him for a moment, watched his divided attention and uncomfortable movements, knowing exactly what he was thinking. Knowing what he wanted, what he was afraid to ask. She didn't blame him, really. Despite their history, despite their friendship, and especially with the lingering tension between the two, it had to be a bit uncomfortable.

But that didn't mean she was planning on making it easy on him.

"Alright then." She said with a shrug, having to bite her lip to contain a laugh at the crestfallen expression suddenly plastered onto his face. Or was she imagining it? "Have fun with that." She turned heel and began to walk out, deliberately slowing her steps somewhat and casting a half-glance over her shoulder. The Doctor never spoke out, though. He never called for her to turn around, he never requested a place to stay with her until he fixed his machine, never said anything. He just stood there, gaze fixed on nothing, his emotions being the one thing Clara couldn't see. With a little sigh she succumbed into acceptance, and turned slightly around to face him. "You can stay with me." She finally announced. "If you want to that is."

She was surprised at how hurt she was when he didn't say anything at first. As if she'd just expected him to immediately agree without question.

"Sure."

Again, not the response she'd been expecting. But Clara did nothing more than give a small nod before turning her back again, dragging her feet along the metal grating of the TARDIS floor until she was back in her own bedroom.

The Doctor knew that Clara was unaware of his deep stare fixed on a spot on the back of her head as she exited the box. He couldn't break his gaze away. He was in a sort of a state of shock, mentally kicking himself, screaming at himself, reprimanding himself all on repeat. How stupid could he be?

He came here in the first place so that he could be reunited with her. Well, he hadn't meant to come here, the TARDIS had done that part, but he'd been planning on getting around to it himself anyways. But still, he wanted their friendship back. He needed it. He knew far too greatly of the great wall of tension that still seemed to separate them, although, he was yet to find out the source of the indifference.

But he'd had a chance. He had a chance and he'd missed it. He'd frozen up. Of course he wanted to stay with her! Nothing better to do, after all, since the damn TARDIS still wouldn't let him fly off. But he'd acted like a complete idiot and frozen to the spot. Sure? Bit more like Absolutely, Clara! Thank you for the offer!

Didn't matter anymore, anyways. Not that it would have gone like that even if he'd thought things through a bit better. This regeneration was old, awkward, and cold. He couldn't seem to get anything straight nowadays, and he still wasn't quite used to it.

"Doctor, you're my friend and all, but you're not sleeping in my bed." Clara teased lightly, hands stuffed deep into the pockets of her dressing gown. She stood hovering in the living room doorway, watching the Doctor's disgruntled expression after hearing her announcement of the sleeping arrangements.

She watched in amusement as he carefully lowered himself onto the sofa, shifting around slightly as if getting a feel for the approximate estimate of plushness and comfort. The little hum he gave was satisfactory, but as soon as he laid back and stretched his limbs longways across the length of the furniture piece, Clara laughed out loud.

"You can't be serious about this." He whined loudly, frowning at the way his feet hung off the edge of the sofa. "I'm too tall." It wasn't that he was planning on sleeping. Surely he wouldn't be trapped long enough for his next sleep cycle to begin calling his attention. But even if he had to, he'd never sleep in here. Not in the same place as Clara. He couldn't, and he hoped she'd never find out why.

"Tough." She stated simply, giving his ear a flick as she passed him on her journey to the kitchen. "You want a place to sleep, that's where you're gonna be."

"Fine." He huffed, rolling sideways back to the ground and lifting himself up to his feet. "I suppose it'll do."

"Oi, you could thank me you know. I didn't have to let you stay."

"But you did." He smirked, flicking her nose in return as he pushed past her side and headed back to the TARDIS.