Hi guys ! New chapter today, as usual ^^ Today is the last day of freedom that I'll have until Christmas. My vacations are over, I need to get back to work for school, and I know it's also the case for some of you, so good luck ! Maybe you're thinking "but what about tomorrow Lara ?" well, tomorrow I have a book to read in French..."Les Faux Monnayeurs", I don't even like French literature. I also have an English test to pass that I'll, of course, study (HAHAHAHAHAHAHA hum sorry). Nah, seriously, I need for this test to be able to describe a picture. Describe a freaking picture...*sighs*

Anyway guys, let's go back to this chapter instead

Enjoy ! ^^

Disclaimer : A statement that denies something, especially responsibility. (Yeah, I know, I'm not funny.)

The Legend Of The Hybrid

Chapter 8 : Deal

It nearly took them the entire afternoon to get at the end of their stories. They had laughed, she had cried (talking about Danny was still difficult, even after so much time) and mostly, they had gotten closer.

Even if, to be honest, she hadn't said the whole truth. She had avoided things like her death, not wanting to scare him or make him feel guilty. She also hadn't mentioned the Cloisters. She knew he had been waiting for it, but she wouldn't tell him. Not for now. It seemed he had understood, he hadn't pressed the matter.

They got back to where Bill, Me and Heather were discussing quietly. They tried to follow the conversation but failed miserably. They couldn't take their eyes away from each other. At some point, she was taken aside by Bill. She wanted to talk to her it seemed.

"So ? Did you talk to him ?" she asked right away.

"Yeah, I did. Thank you about that."

Bill smiled. Clara liked her. She had lots of reasons to in any case. Both having a common past with the Doctor was one of these reasons. About this...now was the time to ask her once again.

How had he been after her death ? That had been one of the things that hadn't left her mind during all these years. She had been worried that he had chosen to isolate himself again. This version of himself wasn't really good with human interactions and would have preferred to stay away from them.

She wanted to know what had prevented him to do so.

"Bill, remember what I asked you earlier ? About the Doctor when you met him. Did..."

"Clara ? Bill ?"

"Oh for god's sake, what again !?"

She turned around to see it was the Doctor. What a timing... She had startled him, she hadn't intended to, actually. She just wanted to ask a bloody question ! He gave her an apologetic smile.

"I just wanted to tell you we are under attack."

"WHAT ?" How could he be so chill about this !?

Everything started to shake around them. They all ran to the TARDIS' screen, struggling at first to see what was the problem. Or actually, where. Then, it came. An army of Ice Warriors were walking in their direction.

Clara tried to look angry but it looked more like a mix of happiness and excitement. There was trouble ahead and she was happy. What was her problem, seriously ? They had had adventures with Me but none of them had given her this exact same feeling.

Fighting against Cybermen ? Nope. Escaping from an army of Daleks ? Not even a bit. Even this time in Stormcage Containment Facility hadn't even been close to. Okay, it was true, she had cheated that day. River had helped her to escape.

She still had to relay this "Hello Sweetie" River had asked her to communicate to the Doctor.

So, why was she excited ? Because the Doctor was here ? It wouldn't be surprising.

She watched closely the screen and noticed someone approaching the TARDIS. The Queen of the Ice Warriors, she would say. She had a crown on her head.

She knocked.

"I demand the Doctor to deliver himself to us. If not, we'll have to shoot."

Another normal day with the Doctor. Me opened the doors, hiding him as good as she could.

"The Doctor ? I know no one having this name. I think you've got the wrong TARDIS your Majesty." The Queen snarled, revealing her white, pointy teeth.

"Don't play games with me, you little insolent. I know he is here. The Doctor didn't behave with Honour. He must face the consequences of his betrayal."

Me was about to reply when the Doctor put his hand on her shoulder, shaking his head.

"Betrayal ? Let's not use these harsh words, it sounds awful coming from your mouth. Greetings my Lady, you look lovely today."

"Doctor." She glared at him, ready to shoot him down.

"Did you come to act like a real warrior and face death like a honourable man ?" He took out his sonic screwdriver, making it spin between his fingers.

"Thanks, but no thanks. I don't think I'm a warrior anyway. Only a very lucky man. Except during our meeting. Listen your Majesty, I didn't intend to make a fool of you. My purpose wasn't to make fun of your mighty race, or to defend the Judoons. It was a simple, stupid mistake. Could we forget about it ?"

"Warriors, take aim !"

At her claim, every Ice Warriors directed their weapons towards the Doctor, waiting for their next order. The Doctor sighed.

"Yeah, didn't think it would work either. Come on dear Queen, how could you forget this beautiful bond there is between your race and me ? How Bill and I helped and saved your civilization ? The last Queen had never forgotten this."

"The last Queen is dead. On my command !"

The Doctor looked around, desperate. This wasn't working like he had expected. He observed his surroundings, hoping the universe would help him this time. Wait ! The universe, the stars...55 Cancri d. Of course ! Why didn't he think about this earlier ?

"Wait wait wait ! How about a deal ?" She knitted her brows, trying to decipher his intentions.

"What kind of deal ?" She was suspicious.

"How about you let me live and in exchange, I'll find the papers you need to keep your planet ?"

"We don't need them."

"Of course you do ! Did you really think they would let you get away with this ? You stole a planet. The Judoons will come back, you can be sure of this. I am your only chance of surviving, killing me wouldn't be a clever choice."

Would it work ? Would it really work ? He hadn't avoided a regeneration to finally die, some weeks later. By the face she was making, he had won. His magic had worked again. At this moment, he would have loved to have his "magician" cape on.

"You have ten minutes to retrieve these papers. No more, no less. If you don't come back in the allocated time, we will kill your companions." He nodded. Ten minutes, he could make it.

"Can I take one of them with me ? Like you said, they are my companions. They're useful from time to time." The Queen raised her hand, pointing Clara with her index finger.

"This one will go with you. Her eyes are like yours, Doctor. Full of madness."

Of course she would choose Clara. He grinned. He stepped back into the TARDIS, taking Clara's hand in the process. It wasn't intended, just an old habit it seemed. She followed him, enjoying the moment. They reached the Doctor's TARDIS, the Doctor already entering the coordinates. Clara stroke one of the TARDIS' walls.

"Hello old cow, did you miss me ? Because I'm back for this little trip." The TARDIS made a growl. Clara laughed. The TARDIS didn't mean it.

Then, Clara called the Doctor, a little smile on her face.

"Hey, Doctor."

"Hmmm ?"

"It's bigger on the inside." He grinned.

She knew he would like her little joke. It was a way to accept each other once again. She was new to him, a new companion aboard his ship. He didn't remember her, and it was fine. She was ready to build back everything they had lost.

Funny thing, she had sworn to herself she wouldn't do this. She had planned to see if he were fine, try to make him forgive Me (which was a total non-sense now that she was thinking about it. He couldn't remember her death so he couldn't be cross at Me.) and then leave.

She hadn't needed to come back. But there she was. She had had a discussion with him some years ago about addictions. You could never know if you were addicted until you tried and gave it up. And she had never had. It had been an addiction, it still was.

She should have known better, you could never give up the Doctor.

"Doctor, I have a question. Bill told me you were dying when she last saw you. That, this Doctor, you, was going to die and regenerate. How come you're still alive ?" He knitted his brows.

"Do you really want to talk about this now ?"

"Yes." He sighed and faced the console, avoiding her gaze.

"My first self helped me."

"Wha- How ? Why ? Yeah, especially why, he wasn't really the helping type..."

She could remember his first self. He had been the first person she had seen in the Time Stream. An old man, older than this Doctor, and impressively, grumpier. But he was nice in his own way. Didn't it remind you of someone ?

He had talked to her. "You shouldn't be here my dear, you don't have any reason to be. Go back from where you're from, this ridiculous man is waiting." She had never dared to tell the Doctor about this discussion, if you could call this a discussion. For an unknown reason, she had felt like it should stay between his first self and her.

"I'm surprised." she added.

"He did. It hadn't been his purpose of course, but he did. I was also surprised, but it explained a lot about myself."

"Well tell me about it. I'm listening."

He started his explanation with Clara listening to him, focused.

Soooooo, why didn't he regenerate ? You won't find the answer, because it took me HOURS to find an explanation, something from the show. Because you know what ? It already happened. There was a moment in which one of the Doctors didn't regenerate when he should have. Some of you will think again it's not canon, but guys, I consider everything related to the show canon as long as it was published by the BBC. You'll see anyway X)

Have a good day or night guys

See ya next chapter !

Salut les gens !

Spirit Of Dark Wolf

PS : Yeah, I'm still alive, I survived to the family dinner and my brother didn't kill me. VICTORY ! \o/