A young girl is twirling about in the woods, her brown hair wiping around her head as she enjoysthe sounds of the leaves crunching under her feet and the animals of the forest, noises that'll be mostly lost one day.

A woman with a large stomach emerges from the small home in the distance. "Arantxa! Come here darling, everyone's waiting for you." She calls.

The girl stops twirling, turning to her mother revealing the fact that it's a younger Kathy Davis. Unknown to the woman, her daughter is more unusual than she realises. While she knows the man she had an affair with, the relationship that resulted in Arantxa, was not human, what she doesn't know is the older soul that inhabits her daughter's body. Arantxa has already lived a life as Kathy Davis before dying a few months after her 21st birthday and is going through having to grow up all over again.

But Wendelin doesn't know this. All she knows is the special box her lover had given to give to their child at the correct time. She had been swept off her feet when she met him, he was so lovely and caring but then he had to leave for his home across the stars and Wendelin had returned to her husband and three children pregnant. Her husband had taken her back and agreed to care for the baby, Arantxa, as if she were his own. It didn't take Wendelin long to realise this wasn't true. Derian always seems to treat his step/adopted daughter with great disdain compared to how he treats his eldest children.

Wendelin is brought out of her thoughts by her daughter running over to her. Her light brown hair is filled with leaves, her cheeks marked with dirt but that doesn't wipe away her beaming smile as she hands her mother a dandelion.

"For you Ma!"

"Thank you, my darling." She takes the weed and rubs Arantxa's cheek with her thumb, wiping away some of the dirt. Arantxa pulls a face, trying to wiggle away from her. Wendelin chuckles. She smiles softly, gazing at her daughter, momentarily forgetting about those waiting for them inside.

Arantxa frowns at her mother. "Ma? What wrong?"

Wendelin shakes her head, smiling. "Nothing, my darling." She strokes her head. "You're going to be doing great things one day."

1,363 years later

It's 1893 and Kathy is paying Jack a visit at his home near Cardiff when she receives her telegram.

Kathy is sitting at the table with Jack, catching up on how he's been when the doorbell rings. Jack leaves and returns, holding something.

"I believe this is for you." He remarks, handing her what looks like a letter.

Kathy takes it and recognises the handwriting as Vastra's. She quickly opens it to find the candle that'll induce the trance state she needs for the call. This isn't the first time they'd be having a conference call, but Kathy knows these are always urgent.

"Sorry Jack, we're going to have to cut this one short. I've got a conference to get to." She apologises.

Kathy wakes up to find herself sitting in a high back chair at a six-sided table. She looks over to see Vastra and Jenny already sitting there.

"Hello." Kathy greets the couple. Both give her warm smiles in greeting.

"Hello my dear." Vastra greets. "I hope we weren't interrupting."

Kathy shakes her head. "No, no. This is far more important."

"Tea?" Vastra gestures to the tea tray in front of her.

"Oh lovely." Jenny pours her a cup, handing it to her and Kathy takes a sip. "Mmm. Good blend."

"Yes, it's drawn from one of my favourite memories." There's a loud grunt as Strax appears at the table.

"Hi Strax!" Kathy greets.

Strax glowers. "It had better be important. I was in the middle of destroying some very pleasant primitives."

Kathy rolls her eyes fondly. It was Strax's weekend off and he often spends those in Glasgow with his 'friends'.

"I apologise for the interruption," Vastra remarks sarcastically, "but there is urgent news concerning the Doctor."

The Doctor? This couldn't be…

"Who else is coming?"

"The women." Vastra replies.

It is then that Clara drops in rather ungracefully, slumping into her chair before quickly sitting up, looking around frantically but relaxing slightly when her eyes land on them. In any other situation Kathy would be thrilled to see the companion but why they're all here is beginning to dawn on her with Clara's arrival.

"So glad you could make it." Vastra casually remarks.

Kathy lets herself relax for a moment as she grins into her cup as she remembers how Vastra would've embedded the sedative needed into the letter for Clara as the girl wouldn't have trusted the candle. Kathy has to stop herself from sniggering as she recalls the scene when Clara reads the letter.

"Where am I?" Clara asks as she's handed some tea.

This brings Kathy back to the present and she has to swallow down the fear that had risen inside of her to quickly reassure the companion, "Exactly where you were but sleeping. You're fine."

"Time travel has always been possible in dreams. We are awaiting only one more participant." Vastra explains.

"Oh, no. Not the one with the gigantic head?" Strax grumbles.

"It's hair, Strax." Jenny explains, exasperatedly.

Strax looks disturbed at the word. "Hair."

Kathy sits up eagerly and beams as River Song arrives in a puff of smoke. Kathy knows this is River at the library, the one whose spent 24 years on Darillium with Twelve.

"Madame Vastra." River greets the Silurian.

"Professor. Help yourself to some tea."

"Why, thank you." River creates a champagne bottle and flute for herself.

"How did you do that?" Jenny questions.

"Disgracefully." River smirks. She turns to Kathy and her smirk transforms into a beaming smile. "Kathy how good it is to see you again. How old are you now?"

"One thousand, three hundred and sixty-three." Kathy says.

"Ah." River looks almost sad though Kathy doesn't blame her. She can only assume through their interactions so far that the two of them will/are close and it must be difficult for your friend to barely know you. River looks at Clara curiously.

"Ah, perhaps you two haven't met. This is the Doctor's companion." Vastra realises the implication of her words and quickly tries to recover herself. "That is, his current travelling assistant."

Clara smiles, but Kathy thinks she looks a bit miffed. "Assistant?"

"Have you gone a darker green?" Strax naively asks Vastra.

Vastra straightens in her chair. "Clara Oswald."

"Professor River Song." River introduces herself. "The Doctor might have mentioned me?"

"Oh, yeah. Oh yeah, of course he has. Professor Song. Sorry, it's just I never realised you were a woman." Clara stumbles. Kathy winces at this.

"Well, neither did I." Strax remarks.

Kathy rolls her eyes more irritably than usual. The situation must be getting to her. "You never do, Strax."

"Perhaps we should get down to the business at hand." Vastra quickly interrupts the awkwardness.

"That might be good, dear, yes." Jenny agrees.

Kathy tenses and chews her lip anxiously causing River to look at her in concern.

Vastra brings up the image of a man that Kathy vaguely recognises. "Clarence DeMarco. Murderer, under sentence of death. He offered us this in exchange for his life."

"Space time coordinates." River observes.

"This, Mister DeMarco claims, is the location of the Doctor's greatest secret." Vastra explains.

"Which is?" Clara asks.

"We don't know. It's a secret." Jenny says.

Kathy shakes her head, deciding to interrupt so that they can get to the point. "You've got it wrong."

Jenny frowns. "What do you mean?"

Kathy turns to Vastra. "Play his message."

Vastra brings it up and Kathy watches in terror as Jenny suddenly brings up her hand to her cheek as if something has touched it.

Vastra brings up the DeMarco hologram. "The Doctor has a secret, you know. He has one he will take to the grave. And it is discovered."

"And he proved the coordinate's value with one word." Kathy adds.

River looks straight at her with absolute belief and conviction. Kathy wonders how she earns that look. "What word?"

"A word I've heard in connection with the Doctor before." Vastra replies. "Trenzalore."

River turns to Kathy with wide eyes, fearful. Kathy reaches forward to touch her hand in comfort. "It's not that time yet."

"It's still dangerous for him to go." River insists. Kathy nods at that. "She's right though, you misunderstood." River says to the others.

Jenny tenses suddenly. "Ma'am, I'm sorry. I just realise I forgot to lock the doors."

"It doesn't matter, Jenny." Vastra dismisses. "What misunderstanding? Tell me."

"No, ma'am, please. I should've locked up before we went into the trance." Jenny pleads.

"Jenny, it doesn't matter!"

Kathy shakes her head tearfully. "It does, Vastra. I'm sorry, if I had known what this call was about before…"

Vastra looks at her wife in concern. "Jenny, are you all right?"

"Sorry, ma'am. So sorry. So sorry. So sorry. I think I've been murdered." Astral Jenny starts to fade away.

"Jenny!"

"What's happened to her?" Clara questions.

"What she just said." Kathy croaks. "She's been murdered."

"Jenny, can you hear me?" Vastra questions urgently.

"Speak to us, boy!" Strax demands.

"Jenny!" Vastra cries as Jenny fully fades.

"You're under attack. You must wake up now. Just wake up. Do it!" River slaps Vastra and the Silurian disappears.

"You too, Strax, Kathy. Wake up now!" River throws her champagne into their faces.

Kathy wakes to find the Whisper men holding away Jack from her and surrounding her.

"Kathy!" Jack cries, struggling.

Kathy quickly stands. "It's alright. It's alright." She glares at the Whisper men who snarl at her. "I'll go with you. I won't fight you just leave him be."

Kathy doesn't get a reply as suddenly everything goes black and the last thing she hears is Jack shouting her name.

Kathy wakes to find herself on a dirty floor, she quickly pulls herself up and immediately recognises where she is. Trenzalore and, more specifically, by the dying TARDIS. Kathy winces in sympathy.

She reaches out her hand to touch the TARDIS. "I'm sorry." Kathy murmurs. She swears she can hear the TARDIS let out a hum in response, but she can't be sure.

Kathy then hears a couple of gasps and turns to see Vastra and Strax waking up further along and hurries over to them.

"This base is surrounded! Lay down your weapons and your deaths will be merciful!" Strax yells.

"Vastra, Strax!" Kathy cries as she reaches them.

"Ah, madam, excellent. Always good to have more back up." Strax greets.

"Jenny. Jenny!" Vastra runs to her wife's body. Jenny lies still on her back as her wife and Kathy land on the ground on either side of her.

"This planet is now property of the Sontaran Empire. Surrender your women and intellectuals." Strax continues to yell.

"Strax, please! She's dead." Vastra calls to the Sontaran butler. Kathy's heart breaks when she hears the emotion in her voice.

Strax scans Jenny. "No heartbeat. Complete cardio-collapse, shock induced."

Vastra grabs him. "Get her back for me. Get her back for me now or I will cut you into pieces."

"Unhand me, ridiculous reptile." Strax shoves Vastra away from him.

"Strax, please." Kathy pleads as she strokes Jenny's hair.

The Sontaran uses his medi-scanner to transmit an electric pulse, and Jenny coughs as she wakes.

"There we go. Just a standard electro-cardio restart. She'll be fine." Strax says.

"Are you all right, my love? Can you hear me?" Vastra asks gently. Jenny nods, still gasping.

"The heart is a relatively simple thing." Strax remarks.

"I have not found it to be so." Vastra rebuts as she and Kathy help Jenny get up.

Suddenly, they are surrounded by a familiar whispering as the Whisper Men approach them, with their leader, Dr Simeon who's now the Great Intelligence.

"I see you have repaired your pet. No matter. I was only attracting your attention. I presume I have it." The Intelligence greets.

"Doctor Simeon. This is not possible." Vastra says through gritted teeth.

Kathy shakes her head, standing in front of her trio of friends. "Oh, it's very possible."

"But he died. You told me." Jenny insists.

"Simeon died, but the creature that possessed him lived on." Vastra explains. "I take it I am now talking to the Great Intelligence?"

The Intelligence ignores her words and walks over to the entrance of the TARDIS. "Welcome to the final resting place of the cruel tyrant. Of the slaughterer of the ten billion, and the vessel of the final darkness. Welcome to the tomb of the Doctor." Cue lightning.

Kathy rolls her eyes. "Do you have to be that dramatic?"

"Where we stand was a minor skirmish, by the Doctor's blood-soaked standards. Not exactly the Time War, but enough to finish him. In the end, it was too much for the old man." The Intelligence tells them.

"Blood-soaked?" Jenny questions doubtfully.

"The Doctor has been many things, but never blood-soaked." Vastra argues.

Kathy winces at that. They never relish in it, but Kathy recalls the darkness of the Doctor throughout the show. This is the one who tried to and had thought they'd destroyed their own planet.

Simeon notices, smirking as he strides over to her and walks around in a circle as he talks, "She knows what I mean. The Prophet. She knows that if you ask the leader of the Sycorax, or Solomon the trader, or the Cybermen, or the Daleks they'd tell a different story. The Doctor lives his life in darker hues, day upon day, and he will have other names before the end. The Storm, the Beast, the Valeyard."

"Even if any of this were true, which I take the liberty of doubting, how did you come by this information?" Vastra asks pointedly, standing beside Kathy and glaring at the Intelligence.

"I am information."

"You were a mind without a body last time we met." Jenny retorts.

"And you were supposed to stay that way." Vastra adds.

"Alas, I did." The Intelligence pulls at Simeon's face, to reveal that he is an empty shell. His clothes tumble to the ground, and then a Whisper Man steps forward and becomes him again. "As you can see."

The Intelligence turns to the door once more.

"The doors require a key." Simeon says to the group behind him. "The key is a word. The word is the Doctor's."

The Intelligence turns to them just as the Doctor appears and storms over to where the Great Intelligence stands, furious.

"Here I am. Late to my own funeral. Glad you could make it." The Doctor grounds out, standing in front of the Intelligence, placing himself between the man and his friends as a protective barrier of sorts.

Clara hurriedly walks over to where the rest of the group stands. Kathy beams at her, delighted to see her again though, she does wish it were under better circumstances. Kathy gives her a tight hug.

"You okay?" She asks the companion.

"Yeah." Clara looks shaken, probably because of old memories awoken as she and the Doctor climbed through the catacombs.

"Kathy."

Kathy startles, turning to see River standing nearby. Kathy wonders why she is seeing River as well. She knows Clara can because of the conference call, but... her as well? Though, Kathy remembers the Doctor saying how he had always been able to see River also. Maybe it has something to do with a Time Lord's mental abilities or the conference call has stayed open for her as well? Possibly.

River smiles at Kathy. "Hello, honey." She puts a finger to her lips. Kathy nods, understanding what River means.

"Open the door, Doctor." The Intelligence commands the Time Lord before him. "Speak and open your tomb."

"No." The Doctor says in a hard tone, glaring at the Great Intelligence.

"Because you know what's in there?" The Intelligence retorts snidely, eyeing the Doctor with a cold gaze.

"I will not open those doors." The Doctor retorts angrily.

"The key is a word lost to time. A secret hidden in the deepest shadow and known to you alone. The answer to a question." The Intelligence says, ignoring the Doctor's words.

"I will not open my tomb." The Doctor reiterates, striding over to the Intelligence causing their faces to get close.

"Doctor, what is your name?" The Intelligence calmly asks. The creature suddenly grips the Doctor's face causing the Time Lord to stiffen before he shoves the Intelligence away from him.

The Intelligence walks away. "The Doctor's friends. Stop their hearts." He orders his Whisper Men. The creatures all snarl and hiss at once, opening their mouths wide to show their razor sharp teeth. The group turn to face the creatures, backing away from them. Kathy places herself in front of Clara, making sure she will be protected.

"Madams, boys, combat formation." Strax says quickly, readying himself for battle. "They are unarmed."

"So are we!" Jenny exclaims as the group backs up from the advancing Whisper Men.

"Do not divulge our military secrets." Strax responded in annoyance.

"Stop this. Leave them alone." The Doctor pleads.

"Your name, Doctor. Answer me." The Intelligence counters.

"Doctor?" Clara cries out in fear, gripping Kathy's arm.

Strax picks up a stick and hits a Whisper Man with it. It cuts through its body. "Do you want me to do that again?" Then the hole closes up.

"It's no use Strax!" Kathy calls to him as she and Clara back up.

"Doctor who?"

The Whisper Man reaches into Strax's chest and closes its hand around his heart. The Sontaran cries out in pain. Kathy looks at her friend in concern, wanting to help but doesn't want to leave Clara vulnerable.

"Please, stop it." The Doctor pleads.

"Doctor who?"

"Unhand me, sir. Argh!" Strax cries out.

"Leave him alone. Let him be." The Doctor begs.

"Don't worry, sir. I think I've got him rattled." Strax reassures through his pain.

Kathy glances over to a distance away from the whole scene. River stands by the edge of the cliff, watching the situation unfold with great uneasiness and worry. The woman's eyes travel to Kathy's, who gives her a nod. Then, Kathy's eyes shoot over to the doors of the tomb and back to River with another slow nod given to her. River indicates with her own head that she understands and swiftly walks over to the tomb.

A Whisper Man grows ever so closer to Kathy as she backs Clara up. Both of them were pinned against a beam behind them. Kathy remains in place in front of Clara, keeping the girl safe and staring down the Whisper Man as it reaches its hand to her chest.

"Doctor! Doctor!" Clara cries in a panic as the creature inches its hand closer.

"Doctor who?"

"Please!" The Doctor yells desperately but then the doors behind the Doctor suddenly open. The tomb lets out a white light as the door groans open like a heavy stone. The Doctor slowly turns around. The Whisper Men let everyone go. The one that had almost grabbed one of Kathy's hearts backs up.

"The TARDIS can still hear me." River notes lightly while coming up beside Kathy. "Lucky thing. Since him indoors is being so useless." The woman sends the Doctor a cheeky smirk and rolls her eyes. Kathy snorts quietly and shakes her head which only makes River chuckle.

"Why did you open the door, sir?" Strax asks the Doctor, still remaining on the ground and panting from almost having his heart ripped out. "I had them on the run."

"Of course you did, Strax." Kathy says sarcastically, going over to help him and the others stand back up on their feet. She's thankful they're alright for now.

"I didn't do it. I didn't say my name." The Doctor answers him, staring at the now open tomb in question. Kathy can see him trying not to look in River's direction.

"No, but I did." River replies.

He turns quickly to the group, making sure they are all okay. Kathy backs up, going over to Clara. The Time Lady pulled the girl close into a hug.

"Clara, you have a choice to make now." Kathy whispers quietly and gently into the girl's ear.

"What choice?" Clara whispers back, hugging Kathy as well.

"Whether or not to become the impossible girl." Kathy breathes, giving the girl a light squeeze in their hug. "Just remember, 'The soufflé isn't the soufflé, the soufflé is the recipe.'" She lets go, stepping back away from Clara, but keeping a hold on one of her hands, making certain to keep the girl safe. Kathy is worried about what the girl must do but she knows it must be Clara and no one else. The companion has her own set path to follow.

Clara pulls back and simply stares at Kathy, who notes how close they are as neither has stepped away.

"Is everyone all right? Is everyone okay?" The Doctor runs over to them, breaking the moment. "Clara? Kathy? Are you both okay?"

"That was not nice." Clara says shakily, staring at the Whisper Men and seemingly still in shock over what had almost happened.

"I know. I'm sorry." The Doctor apologises before turning to the Intelligence. "Now then, Doctor Simeon, or Mister G Intelligence, whatever I call you, do you know what's in there?"

"For me, peace at last." The Intelligence replies coolly. "For you, pain everlasting." He turns slightly to the door, giving a small knowing smile. "Won't you invite us in?"

The Doctor hesitates for a long moment, staring around at them all. When he looks at her, Kathy nods slowly, letting him know there is nothing to be done now. They must walk into the open tomb. He lets out a long breath, gradually stepping towards the doors with everyone following behind. The Doctor grunts as he pushes the doors open the rest of the way, letting them see within the tomb.

The TARDIS has become a wreck over the long years left alone to die. Ivy has grown throughout the control room. Dead twigs and leaves lay scattered across the floor. The entire place is cold, no longer holding the gentle blanket of warmth as it once had. The Cloister Bell tolls out softly as they step up to the upper floor of the room. Where the console should have been is now only a bright tangle of energy. It glows a white light of tendrils, swirling and writhing in a column. Whispers and wisps can be heard from it as it continues to swirl about. The Intelligence steps around to the other side, away from the Doctor's group, going close to it while everyone else remains a safe distance back.

"What's that?" Clara asks curiously.

"What were you expecting, a body?" The Doctor answers quietly. "Bodies are boring. I've had loads of them. That's not what my tomb is for."

"But what is the light?" Vastra questions as they all stand side-by-side, staring into the white tendrils.

"It's beautiful." Jenny comments.

"Shall I destroy it?" Strax suggests.

"No, it's not something you can destroy, Strax." Kathy tells him. He pouts somewhat, looking greatly disappointed.

"What is that?" Clara asks again, pushing for answers.

"The tracks of my tears." The Doctor tells them all softly.

The Intelligence scoffs at the Doctor's remark. "Less poetry, Doctor. Just tell them." It states coolly. He and his Whisper Men stand next to the white tendrils across from them on the other side of the room, staring intently into the light.

The Doctor frowns, likely finding the being to be of great annoyance. "Time travel is damage. It's like a tear in the fabric of reality. That is the scar tissue of my journey through the universe. My path through time and space from Gallifrey to Trenzalore." He zaps it with his sonic screwdriver.

Suddenly voices from the Doctor's past incarnations come flooding out and Kathy struggles to catch them all. Considering the Doctor is meant to have had more incarcerations than they remember, Kathy wonders if they are coming out as well.

"Have you ever thought what it's like to be wanderers in the fourth dimension?" Kathy catches the First Doctor asking.

"Do I have the right?" Four.

Six comes through. "Daleks, Cybermen, they're still in the nursery compared to us."

"There are corners of the universe that have bred the most dangerous things." Two adds.

"You were fantastic. Absolutely fantastic." Nine cries.

"I'm the Doctor. I'm from Gallifrey in the constellation of Kasterborous…"

"Hello, Stonehenge!"

"My own personal time tunnel. All the days…" Eleven says from next to them.

"It was the daisiest daisy I'd ever seen." Three butts in.

"…even the ones that I, er," Kathy sees the Doctor is beginning to struggle and she watches him in concern, "even the ones that I haven't lived yet." The Doctor collapses to the ground.

"Doctor. Doctor!" Clara cries as she and Kathy rush over to him.

"No, no. Which is why I shouldn't be here. The paradoxes. It's very bad." The Doctor gasps as the two cradle him.

The Intelligence steps forward, nearing the white tendrils with calm serenity.

"No. No. No. What are you doing? Somebody stop him!" The Doctor cries weakly.

"The Doctor's life is an open wound. And an open wound can be entered." The Intelligence declares.

"No, it would destroy you." The Doctor warns.

"Not at all. It will kill me. It will destroy you." The Intelligence corrects. "I can rewrite your every living moment. I can turn every one of you victories into defeats. Poison every friendship. Deliver pain to your every breath."

"It will burn you up. Once you go through, you can't come back. You will be scattered along my timeline like confetti." The Doctor struggles to say. Kathy winces, hating seeing him like this.

"It matters not, Doctor." The Intelligence retorts harshly. "You thwarted me at every turn. Now you will give me peace as I take my revenge, of every second of your life. Goodbye, Doctor." The Intelligence backs up into the timeline before the Doctor can say another word. They all can only watch in horror as the Great Intelligence screams and is consumed by the tendrils.

The Whisper Men disappear in an instant and the whole room shakes violently. The Paternoster Gang stumbles around on their feet. Clara and Kathy grip onto the Doctor tightly in fear as to what is to come. The Doctor starts to scream in agony, thrashing on the floor. Kathy winces as it feels like he's screaming in her mind. The timeline in front of them turns red.

"What's wrong with him?" Clara asks in alarm. "What's happening?"

"He's being destroyed all at once. Torn apart throughout his timeline." Kathy cries, trying to keep the Doctor from thrashing too greatly and hurting himself. "He's being rewritten. The Intelligence is attacking his entire timeline. He's dying all at once." Kathy holds onto his head and tries to talk to him, trying to soothe him.

Vastra pulls out a device from her pocket, naming off what is happening. In each of the places, the Doctor is dying and being stopped. "The Dalek Asylum. Androzani."

That catches Clara's attention. "What did you say? Did you say the Dalek Asylum?"

Vastra ignores her. "Now he's dying in London, with us. Oh, dear Goddess."

Jenny looks at her wife in concern. "What's wrong?"

"A universe without the Doctor. There will be consequences. Jenny, with me." Vastra leaves with Jenny and Strax following.

Clara turns to Kathy. "The Dalek Asylum. The Doctor said it was me that saved you both. How? Victorian London. How, how could I have been in Victorian London?"

Kathy opens her mouth to reply but suddenly she's creasing over, gasping in pain. She grips her head as she screams, tears streaming down her face.

Clara panics. "Kathy?! What's wrong?! What's happening?!"

"I-I don't- Ah!" Kathy cries. She feels someone touch her head to see it's River crouching by her. "W-what's happening?!" Kathy sobs in pain.

River looks at her mournfully. "I'm sorry."

Kathy realises what she means. What's happening to her is like what is or will happen with Jenny and Strax. Her life has been impacted by the Doctor likely in more ways than she realises. She remembers the relief River had expressed after the Pandorica to find Kathy alive. She must've known. Of course she does.

"What's happening?!" Clara sobs.

Kathy looks down to see that her hand has become translucent. She ignores her pain and pulls herself over the companion, reassuring her by saying, "It's going to be alright; you know what to do, you're brilliant." Kathy kisses her forehead.

"Kathy... no." The Doctor sobs as he pulls himself over to her. Gritting his teeth harshly as he makes it over to her, touching Kathy's cheek. His hand suddenly falls through her as she goes from translucent to more transparent. "Kathy!" He shouts, grasping at nothing as she completely vanishes from existence.

Clara watches as the Doctor sobs on the ground with tears running down her cheeks. River is standing away from them, not looking at them, but Clara can see her shoulders shaking.

Vastra comes running in looking tearful. "The stars are going out. And Jenny and Strax are dead. There must be something we can do."

"Kathy's gone too." Clara murmurs, staring at where Kathy once was. "How?"

Vastra looks at her scanner. "He was in 6th century England, Amore-burh. Kathy told me she was from there; the Doctor must've saved her before or someone else…"

Clara looks up at the time stream, seeing the red tendrils. Words of Kathy echoing in her mind from earlier.

"I have to go in there." Clara says. She turns to River, who now faces them looking devastated as she holds her hands together tightly in anxiety. Clara glances at the crying Doctor and back to the timeline. "I've already done this. They've already seen me do it. Kathy called me the impossible girl. And this is why."

"Whatever you're thinking…" River speaks up, seeming conflicted about what to say to Clara.

"If I step in there, what happens?" Clara asks, standing.

"The time winds will tear you into a million pieces." River tells her gently. "A million versions of you, living and dying all over time and space, like echoes."

Clara turns her gaze to the dead woman, eyes filled with determination. "But the echoes could save him, bring back Kathy, right?"

"But they won't be you. The real you will die. They'll just be copies."

Clara smiles at her, seeing that the woman is only really telling her this as a courtesy as River knows what choice they all want the companion to do. "But they'll be real enough to save them. 'The soufflé isn't the soufflé, the soufflé is the recipe.'" Clara beams as she remembers Kathy saying that. Realising why she had. A way of telling Clara that she will still be alive for them. She would still exist in their eyes.

"No, Clara..." she hears the Doctor say quietly.

"Clara, thank you." River whispers, smiling at the girl.

Clara nods to the woman, then looks down at the Doctor with a smile. "If this works, get out of here as fast as you can. And spare me a thought now and then." She walks up to the tendrils.

"No, please." The Doctor begs.

Clara pauses before stepping inside, turning to the Doctor one last time. "In fact, you know what? Run. Run, you clever boy. Remember me and keep her safe."

"No. Clara!"

Clara steps into the time stream. There's a flash of light as it turns white again, but Clara is gone.

Kathy groans as she wakes up. She frowns in confusion when she looks up to find a clear blue sky above her. What?

She pulls herself so that she's sitting and that's when she realises that she'd been lying on a leaf-covered forest floor. A forest that looks quite familiar.

Then she hears a scream. Before Kathy can do anything, a small girl comes running into the clearing, being chased by what looks to be a red lizard creature. Kathy stops herself from calling it a dragon. The girl stumbles, falling on her front. She tries to get up but is unable to do so and can only scuttle away from the creature as quick as she can by crawling on her back. Kathy tries to rush forward but finds she's unable to move. She watches frantically as the creature growls at the terrified young girl.

A girl whose blue eyes and light brown hair match Kathy's. She isn't—

Suddenly, a young woman comes running forward. She has short blonde hair and lightly tanned skin. She is wearing a denim jacket, belted navy shorts and a cropped checked sweater. She throws herself in front of the young girl. "Don't you dare touch her!"

"Ruby!" A black man with short dark hair and a small moustache runs up to them in an orange shirt and matching plaid coat and trousers.

"Doctor!" 'Ruby' cries. "We need to activate it now!"

Sorry, did she just say Doctor?! Though, now that she thinks about it, she can almost sense that it's him.

"I know, I know." The Doctor retorts, running up to stand next to her. "I just need to work out what's wrong with it." He starts whacking the device he carries.

Ruby seems to be wrapping her arms around the small girl, comforting her.

"What a precious scene." A voice sneers. Kathy turns to see it's the Great Intelligence. She begins to wonder how he's here but then she remembers the Whisper Men, the dying TARDIS, the Intelligence stepping into the Doctor's timeline before Kathy herself began to fade. Oh god, is she dead?

"How satisfying that not only do I destroy the Doctor, but I also get to stop you from existing." The Echo Intelligence continues.

He can't mean— "What do you mean?"

The Echo Intelligence looks at her blandly, as if she's beneath him. "That little girl is your mother. I stop the Doctor, you're never born. How convenient."

He walks forward to interfere but then—

Clang!

The echo of the Great Intelligence falls forward, unconscious. Standing behind him is a familiar brunette holding a branch.

"Clara?!" Kathy exclaims in shock.

But it isn't Clara. Her hair is styled differently, and she wears clothes similar to clothes from over a thousand years ago. Kathy's childhood.

Clara looks at her confused but carries on, running over to the group. "Wendelin!"

Kathy sees the unknown Doctor's shocked expression at her appearance before his eyes then meet Kathy's then there's a flash of white light and Kathy finds herself falling. She's so confused but she knows now that Clara has done what's needed, she jumped into the Doctor's timeline and has now saved Kathy from being erased.

Kathy gasps as she feels herself coming back into reality. Her eyes finally snap open and sees Eleven hovering over her worriedly. He's smiling widely with joy as she blinks at him, feeling dazed. Kathy realises she's lying on the dirt floor of the dying TARDIS of Trenzalore.

"How are you feeling?" The Doctor asks her quietly.

"Um... I'm sensing steam engines. Two." Kathy answers as lightly as she can.

"That's just side effects of being erased. It'll pass." The Doctor assures her.

Kathy, with the Doctor's help, stands up. She wobbles slightly, feeling woozy, and the Doctor has to quickly hold her up. Kathy has to blink out the black dots that appear in her vision. She looks around and realises then that River is standing right next to her and the Doctor with a wide smile on her face while Strax, Jenny and Vastra hover nearby.

It is then that River charges forward, gathering up Kathy in a tight hug. Kathy freezes for a moment in surprise. She hadn't thought River would do this or could. She glances over to the Doctor and sees he's smiling softly at the two of them. Clearly, he and River must've had their talk. With that, Kathy hugs River back tightly.

"I thought we'd lost you forever for a while there." River breathes into her ear.

"Never." Kathy replies gently, rubbing her back fondly. She pulls back. "Did you say I was erased?"

The Doctor and River share a look. The former rubs the back of his head awkwardly. "Yes, I, um…"

"Ah, that makes sense with what I saw then." Kathy comments, cutting him off. River and the Doctor look at her in surprise.

"What do you mean? What did you see?" River questions.

Kathy smirks. "Spoilers, honey." She and River share a grin. "More importantly, we need to get Clara back."

It is then that she glances over to the others in the room to see them looking at Kathy, River and the Doctor in bewilderment. Ah, yes. This probably looks extremely weird.

The Doctor looks to the time stream, contemplating.

"Kathy, tell him not to do this. Tell him not to go in his own time stream." River pleads. "He keeps saying he has to."

Kathy shakes her head. "I'm sorry River he has to. He needs to bring Clara back."

Vastra steps forward. "But how? Is she still alive? It killed Doctor Simeon."

Kathy nods. "She's alive, but we need to get her out of there."

River grips Kathy's shoulders, pleading, "It's too dangerous! There has to be another way. He has to use the TARDIS, use something."

The Doctor walks forward, cradling River's face in his hands. "There is a time to live and a time to sleep. You are an echo, River. Like Clara. Like all of us, in the end. My fault, I know, but you should've faded by now."

"It's hard to leave when you haven't said goodbye." River says softly. Kathy looks away as she feels like she's intruding.

"Then tell me, because I don't know. How do I say it?" The Doctor questions.

"There's only one way I'd accept. If you ever loved me, say it like you're going to come back." River tells him.

Kathy looks back as the Doctor smirks and steps towards his time stream. "Well, then. See you around, Professor River Song."

"Till the next time, Doctor." River remarks.

"Don't wait up."

"Oh, there's one more thing."

"Isn't there always?"

"I was mentally linked with Clara. Kathy's right. If Clara was dead, then I wouldn't still be here." River explains.

"Of course." The Doctor says with a grin.

River smirks. "Goodbye, sweetie." She turns to Kathy stroking her cheek. "Goodbye, honey."

Kathy smiles, feeling tearful despite barely knowing this woman. "Till the next time."

River nods and with that, Melody Pond, child of the TARDIS, vanishes. The Doctor swallows thickly before turning and stepping into his own time stream. Kathy winces, looking away from the flash of bright light.

Kathy, Strax, Jenny and Vastra have to wait then suddenly there's another bright flash and the Doctor appears in front of them with an unconscious Clara in his arms. His face is stony. Kathy knows who he's seen. The War Doctor, the version of himself that he always wanted to forget as he believes that he was the Doctor that had destroyed Gallifrey. It's weird how Kathy has gone through all that, what really happened, and she can't tell him.

Kathy ignores this and rushes over to the two as the Doctor places Clara on the floor just as she wakes up. The companion begins coughing, Kathy strokes her face comforting her as Clara startles awake.

"Kathy!" Clara exclaims in relief, flinging her arms around Kathy in a tight hug. "You're okay!"

Kathy grins and hugs the companion back tightly. "Of course, I'm okay. You're our impossible girl. With you around how can I not be safe?"

A/N: So, Kathy got erased because a future Doctor (don't know whether you noticed it was Fifteen and Ruby – a bit weird writing for the duo when we haven't seen anything of them in the show) had saved her mother in the past meaning that the Intelligence can stop the Doctor and get Kathy's mother killed leading her to have never existed. However, an echo version of Clara exists in this century so she's able to protect them meaning Kathy goes on to be born in this universe.

Spoilers – any Doctor dying before Fifteen has some consequences for Kathy.