Sorry, this is a rather short one. I wrote it in a café this morning. I figured I've been spoiling you a bit with so many updates, so here's a short chapter to un-spoil you. Thank you for the many reviews, as always! I'm so happy my FanFics are loved :)

Chapter 13

Clara got up early in the morning. She knew that whatever would happen next between her and her Doctor, it was up to her. It was her decision. And this time she really had to make an effort.

"What is this?" the Doctor asked, visibly confused, as he stepped out of his TARDIS about an hour later.

"Breakfast," Clara, who was sitting at the table, replied, "I wanted to make your favourite, but I don't know what that is."

"I like everything," he stated. His behaviour towards her was still cold, but Clara could see his eyes wander over the food. He liked her idea.

When they had both stared at their breakfast for a few moments, Clara invited him to sit down. He did so only reluctantly.

"I thought we could talk over breakfast. I wanted to apologize. I've been stupid. I really didn't get what you were trying to tell me and I want to make up for it," Clara blurted out. She was so eager to get those words off her chest that she hadn't even made sure the Doctor was following her.

The Doctor took a bite off the croissant and started to look at her. "I'm sorry, you were saying?"

Clara sighed. "I was apologizing," she said, an accusatory tone in her voice. Why was it that in precisely this moment, when she was making a heartfelt attempt at an apology, he chose not to listen?

"Oh, that's good," He nodded towards her. Clara wanted to continue, but the Doctor cut her off, "You know, I think Isabel rebelled on purpose, so we would come back and try to help."

Why? Why was his mind on Isabel when there were more important matters to discuss? Clara knew that Isabel was more important, she knew they were only here because of her, to take care of the teenager. But at this moment, all she wanted was to make things right with her Doctor.

"Why do you think that?" Clara asked, eager to get on with their original conversation.

"Well, she practically told me. She wants me to take her with me. In the TARDIS," he explained, dissecting his breakfast with his fingers while speaking.

"And are you going to do that?"

"Good grief, no! It's bad enough I have to drag you out of danger every single time."

Clara crossed her arms in front of her chest in protest. "Hey, when did you ever have to drag me out of danger? What do I do that is so dangerous?"

Pf, I don't know. Jumping into my time line, crash landing in the Dalek asylum."

"My echoes don't count. That technically wasn't me," Clara complained.

"Technically, it was you."

"Okay, we'll fight about this later. What do we do about Isabel? Obviously, we need to make her see reason."

"Yes," the Doctor said. Clara waited, hoping that he would elaborate, but he didn't.

"So?" she asked.

"I was hoping you could talk to her," the Doctor looked up at her, puppy-eyed.

"Why me? You're the one she likes."

"Because you're the teacher and I kind of screwed up that liking-part last night," he admitted.

Clara made the Doctor explain in full detail what had been going on in the TARDIS after she had left the conservatory. She then dragged the Doctor upstairs to apologize, but they found Isabel's room empty.

"Okay, we have a missing teenager who hates me and is probably still pretty mad at you. What do we do?" Clara asked after she had concluded the obvious. She was staring at the Doctor, tapping her feet, waiting for him to come up with one of his great plans.

"Stop worrying, Clara. She will come back."

"How can we know that for sure? And how can you be so calm about it?" Clara started to raise her voice, but it had no effect on the Doctor.

"Because Sammy is sleeping in his basket downstairs."

"Oh," it suddenly dawned on Clara that the Doctor wasn't so oblivious as she always thought him to be. It was true. Isabel would never leave without taking Sammy with her. She would be back, though what they were supposed to do then, Clara didn't know.

OOO

"Are you sure?" Cindra asked, "You should never make an important decision while you are angry."

"I am absolutely sure. I want away from that planet, from those idiots that call themselves humans. There were two possible ways to do that and one of them isn't working out."

"Good," Cindra smiled, "I understand how you're feeling and I can assure you that once you have joined this school, you will never feel this way again. We're a family and you will be very, very welcome."

"Thank you," Isabel replied, not quite daring to smile back at the woman.

"There is, however, still the question of your entrance fee."

"I don't have any money," Isabel was worried now. She had known that she would not just be accepted into the school. It would have its price.

"It's not money we want from you. It is of much, much more value. No money in this universe could buy the thing we want from you. And I'm afraid you're going to have to steal it."

"What is it?" Isabel asked.

"We want the Time Lord's TARDIS."