The TARDIS pitched hard to the right, nearly upending Hally and sending Clara sprawling across the console room. Alarms blared and the floor tilted again, this time to the left, causing both of them to stumble. Hally braced herself, clutching the railing as best she could, while Clara, sprawled on the grated floor, managed to grab onto a nearby lever just as The Doctor flung himself across the console, frantically yanking at the controls.
"Doctor!" Hally yelled, pulling herself towards him, a wild look in her eyes. "Let me help! If you can just—no, stop—you're making it worse!"
The Doctor's fingers fumbled over the controls, flipping switches with what seemed like random hope rather than the certainty she was used to. The TARDIS plunged forward again, lights flashing in warning as the console buzzed and hummed under his clumsy attempts. She felt the ship give another violent lurch.
Clara managed to scramble to her feet. "What's happening?"
He slapped her hands away, hard, flicking a switch that only caused more warning lights to flash. "Just… trying something new!"
"Oh, so you're trying out new ways to crash us?" Hally retorted, barely holding on as the TARDIS gave another violent jolt.
"Not crashing! Merely—redirecting! Now if you'd just—ah, there!" The Doctor snapped, pulling another lever with determined force. Through the monitor, they caught flashes of lush greenery, enormous ferns, and… Hally's eyes widened, a massive, lumbering form with jagged, serrated teeth and claws longer than her forearm.
"Uh, Doctor?" Hally warned, watching as the creature's reptilian head turned, locking onto the TARDIS with alarming precision.
"Is that what I think it is?" Clara asked, scrambling over the console and bracing herself next to Hally.
"Big teeth? Claws?" Hally nodded, her voice edging into panic. "Uh, yeah, Tyrannosaurus Rex, 4 O'Clock."
The Doctor glanced up at the viewport, his eyes widening for just a second before he yanked another lever hard. "No, no, no that's 'Ten past Eleven'!"
Before she could retort, the TARDIS rocketed sideways, twisting and darting through the air as the creature took chase, its giant feet thundering with each earth-shaking step.
"It's getting closer!"
"Yes, I can see that, thank you!" The Doctor barked, flipping switches with increasing frustration. "Unbelievable, can't even enjoy a nice prehistoric tour without, oh, no, no, no, wrong button!" The TARDIS tipped upward, bouncing them off a passing cliff edge.
"This is not working! Let Hally drive!" Clara shouted, her grip tightening on the railing.
"Oh, so you WANT to die! Why didn't you say?!" He cracked back, slamming his hand into the console. The engines stalled before roaring back into life. "Almost there."
"Almost where?" Hally snapped back sarcastically, glancing back at the monitor, where the T-Rex's snapping jaws seemed to loom closer with each passing second.
"Anywhere but here!" he retorted, pressing his shoulder into the main lever and yanking it forward. The TARDIS hurtled ahead, but the T-Rex continued its relentless pursuit, each thunderous step shaking the ground beneath them.
"It's still gaining!" Clara shouted.
"Oh, give me a break." He muttered, slapping a switch. "Come on, old girl, work with me here!"
With one last twist of the controls, the TARDIS wobbled and shuddered—and then, with a jarring final jolt, the engines thundered before dying out altogether, leaving them in an uneasy silence.
They'd landed.
The three of them held their breath. Hally glanced over her shoulder to see the prehistoric landscape had disappeared from the monitor, replaced with a city, grey and cold.
"Right," she exhaled, bracing herself and pushing away from the console. "Where are we?"
The Doctor didn't answer. Instead, he bent down, rummaging frantically through the various drawers built into the console until he came up with a small vial. Without hesitation, he shoved it into her hands, his expression fierce. "Here," he said, pressing it hard into her palm. "Take this."
She frowned down at it, eyeing the swirling dark pink liquid within. "Why?"
"Drink it." He urged, his voice a touch too intense to be reassuring.
Hally raised a sceptical brow. "What is it?"
"Just. Drink."
She immediately bristled at the unarguable command in his tone, her back straightening.
Clara folded her arms, frowning. "Are you trying to poison her?"
Hally shot Clara an eyebrow at the frankly ridiculous question before she turned back to The Doctor. However, he'd gone, slipped away to the TARDIS door just as a heavy, determined knock pounded against the wood.
"Hello? Exit the box, and surrender to the glory of the Sontaran empire," came a gruff voice, the words as matter-of-fact as a grocery list.
The Doctor swung open the door, casting an impatient glance toward the stout Sontaran standing outside. "Shush," he muttered, cutting it off as he promptly closed the door in its face.
Hally checked the monitor, frowning. A Sontaran in what looked like Victoria London…?
With a sigh, The Doctor reopened the door. "I was being chased by a giant dinosaur," he grumbled, "but I think I managed to give it the slip."
Hally moved away from the console, heading towards the door. Clara's eyes followed her cautiously.
He shut the door, only to reopen it once more, leaning out slightly, eyes squinting as though to gauge the world's intentions. "Sleepy?" he asked, voice low and speculative.
"Sir?" The Sontaran replied, its tone one of confusion.
"Bashful? Sneezy? Dopey? Grumpy." The Doctor tilted his head, studying him with an almost childlike curiosity. Then, spotting movement beyond him, his gaze shot in another direction. "Oh, you two. The green one and the not-green one," he greeted, gesturing vaguely. "Or it could be the other way round, I mustn't prejudge."
Hally slipped out the TARDIS door, her eyes taking in Strax, Jenny and Vastra and indeed what appeared to be Victorian London. Clara slowly followed her out.
"Oh, you remember…" The Doctor started, wagging a finger towards the human, eyes narrowing with fleeting recognition. "Thingy. The, er, the not-me one. The asking questions one. Names, not my area."
"Clara," she corrected, her tone short but patient.
"Well, it might be Clara," he replied with an airy shrug. "Might not be. It's a lottery."
"It is Clara," she repeated, unimpressed.
Hally let out a soft sigh, running a hand through her hair.
"Well, I'm not ruling it out." He turned his attention to Hally, a firm eyebrow cocked in her direction. "And the daughter one. Trouble."
"Thanks," Hally replied dryly, crossing her arms as she eyed him. "Good to see you alive and well, Dad."
"Trouble," he repeated, the side of his mouth twitching upwards momentarily.
To her complete despair, they were cut off by the distant bellow of a roar. Her breath caught in her throat at the sound as she turned to see the T-Rex that had been chasing them moments before stomping along the south bank of the Thames.
Ah. Right.
Getting back in the TARDIS and simply flying home was looking less and less immediately likely.
Fuck.
The Doctor, however, seemed barely fazed by the giant prehistoric anomaly, instead clicking his fingers impatiently in front of her face.
"Why haven't you drank that yet?" he muttered, his tone abruptly pointed and his accent only adding to the evident irritation.
She cocked an eyebrow at him. "You haven't told me what it is."
"Shhh," he hissed back, waving a hand dismissively as he turned to bark at the dinosaur, "Oi, big man, shut it." Then, seeing the creature's features, he amended, "Oh, you've got a dinosaur too. Big woman, sorry."
Clara's brow furrowed. "Doctor, listen to me. You—you need to calm down."
"I'm not flirting, by the way," he clipped, tipping his head toward the dinosaur with a half-smile before turning back to Clara, his eyes narrowing with sudden suspicion. "Wrong? What's gone wrong? Have you regenerated?" He peered at her more closely, clearly puzzling over something. "I remember you! You're Handles. You used to be a little, a little robot head. And now you. You've really let yourself go." He rounded back on his daughter, the expression on his face darkening. "Will you do as you're told." He pointed emphatically at the vial before motioning upwards to her mouth.
Hally held it up, eyes narrowing at him. "Not until you tell me what it is," she shot back, her gaze a sharp challenge.
The dinosaur roared again, and The Doctor barely glanced at it, waving a hand as he muttered, "Reduce the frequency."
Clara blinked. "I'm sorry?"
"Your sonic lanterns, turn them down," he said, looking up in exasperation. "You're giving her a headache."
"Giving who a headache?" Jenny asked, her brow raised as she glanced between the three of them.
"My lady friend," he answered with a sidelong look. "Just an expression, don't get any ideas." He straightened, puffing his chest. "I am over two thousand years old, and do you know what I've learned in that time, hmm? All those planets and supernovas and adventures and genius escapes... do you know what I have learned?" His gaze snapped around between them all.
"What?" Strax asked, his body shifting to one side in a strange head cock that moved his whole body.
The Doctor's gaze softened, his tone dropping as he leaned in. "Listen… listen…" He waited for Clara, Strax and Jenny to lean in, looking between them as though sharing a deep secret. "I have learned that whenever my daughter ends up hanging around her husband for longer than five minutes, she's going to need to drink one of those." His finger pointed slowly at the vial still in her hand.
Hally's mouth dropped open as she gaped at him. "Wait a second—are you serious?"
"Oh, are you telling me I'm wrong?" He straightened up, fixing her with a stare.
She stuttered, struggling to find the words to express her outrage.
He cut across her, eyebrows rising up dramatically on his forehead. "Why? What? Are you doing 'safe sex' now? Is that it?"
She scoffed, "This feels like none of your business," she managed, her face heating up.
He plucked the vial from her hand. "So you don't need it?"
She reached out and grabbed it back, flustered. "No... no, I… might do."
The Doctor's face split into a smug smile. "Hah. Y'see. Parenting. Tick." He announced to the small group, before his face dropped, his eyes narrowing as he leaned into Clara's face. "You're all going dark and wobbly. Stop that."
Clara, confused, glanced at Jenny. "I don't think we are."
"Never mind," he said, already dismissing the thought. "Everyone take five."
He shut his eyes, swaying briefly before falling to the floor with a heavy thud.
"What do we do?" Clara asked, glancing between Hally and the others in alarm.
Jenny looked uncertain as well. "I don't understand. Who is he? Where's The Doctor?"
Hally clenched her jaw, looking at the small vial in her hand. With a reluctant sigh, she uncorked it and, holding her breath, drank.
Clara's voice was soft, but certain. "Right here. That's him. That's The Doctor."
Vastra, observing the scene with a composed nod, replied, "Well then, here we go again."
With considerable effort, they managed to move The Doctor to Vastra's home, tucking him away in one of the upstairs rooms to rest. The air was thick with Clara's worry as she paced the drawing room, her anxiety rather suffocating.
"I think something's wrong," Clara fretted, glancing upstairs as if she could see through the walls to where The Doctor lay.
"In what way?" Jenny pressed gently.
"Why is he like that?"
Hally softened, trying to reassure her. "He's fine. He'll be fine. Regeneration is messy. We just need to let him rest."
Clara's eyes didn't lose their fearful gleam. "What if something's gone wrong?"
Hally let out a small laugh. "If something had gone wrong, he'd have… I don't know… three heads? He's fine. I promise."
"But he's... he's old." Clara's voice hitched, eyes wide with worry.
"I know." Hally's face split with a wide grin that didn't quite meet her eyes. "Finally acting his age, it's refreshing, isn't it?"
A sudden crash and muffled shouting broke the air. The Doctor was up, stumbling and pacing, muttering to himself. They'd all ended up back upstairs where Vastra had, thankfully, "dealt with it," forcing him back to bed, and knocking him out.
Once things settled, Clara turned to the others with a helpless look. "So what now?"
"He needs rest," Vastra said, her voice decisive.
"So what do we do? How do we fix him?" Clara pressed, her face flushed.
"Fix him?" Jenny raised an eyebrow, confused.
Clara's gaze darted around the room. "How do we change him back?"
Hally let out a soft laugh, a touch of empathy in her eyes. "Clara…"
Vastra took a more blunt approach. "Jenny, I'll be in my chamber. Would you be kind enough to fetch my veil?"
"Why, are we expecting strangers?" Jenny asked, a smile tugging at her lips.
"It would seem there's already one here." Vastra's tone was unyielding as she swept from the room, leaving Clara looking after her, deflated.
Hally sighed, voice gentle. "Clara, just… take a breath."
A forlorn bellow drifted in from outside.
Jenny looked out the window, brow furrowing. "The dinosaur doesn't seem very happy."
Clara's brow creased. "What's wrong with it?"
Hally left the two humans, following Vastra to her chamber, where she had positioned herself with a striking calm, seated dramatically, pouring tea as though the evening was anything but abnormal.
Vastra observed her quietly as she entered the room.
"It isn't her fault he never explained it to her properly." Hally offered.
"The last time I saw you, you weren't quite in such an empathetic mood." Vastra's eyes sparkled, but her tone remained steady.
"I don't need judgment from you, Vastra." Hally clipped back firmly as she sat herself down in a vacant chair.
"No judgment here. Just an observation."
Hally sighed softly. Vastra's gaze seemed to look through her. "Tea?" She offered politely, motioning towards the teapot.
"I could do with something stronger." Hally replied dryly, the side of her mouth curving with a twitch.
Vastra's lips quirked in a slight smile as she poured the tea. Jenny returned with Vastra's veil, positioning it on Vastra with careful hands. Hally raised an eyebrow, noticing that despite the added garment, she could still see Vastra's expression perfectly. Jenny offered her an amused smile at the confusion evident on her face.
"Thank you, Jenny," Vastra said with a hint of mischief. "Now, if you could spike the Time Lady's tea… she looks like she needs it."
Hally let out a chuckle, a flicker of humour sparking through her fatigue. "Flattery."
Vastra regarded her with a steady gaze. "What happened to him?"
Hally's smile faded, replaced by a shadow. "He got too old. Died."
Vastra tilted her head, eyes narrowing with a suspicious glint. "So you didn't stab him?"
She barked a laugh. "No, I did not."
"You smell like blood," Vastra noted matter-of-factly.
"Well, then, you'll also be able to smell that it isn't his," Hally countered, a smirk tugging at her lips.
"I won't comment on the other smell."
"Suit yourself." Hally replied, tilting her head, a playful mischief glittering behind her eyes.
Vastra's gaze softened. "You're shaking."
Hally's eyes dropped, noticing that she was right. There was a slight tremor in her hands. Jenny quietly replaced the teacup in front of her, an encouraging smile on her face.
"Your hearts are still beating far too fast." Vastra observed.
Hally swallowed hard. "I'm not a danger, if that's what you're getting at."
Vastra's gaze was calm, comforting. "I was not." She motioned for Hally to take a sip, and Hally lifted the cup to her lips. The effect was almost instant, a warming sensation that spread from her mouth, down her throat and bloomed across her chest. "I can take it from here, Hally. You've helped him more than enough today…" Whatever Jenny had laced the tea with had the tension across her shoulders slowly dissipating.
Hally offered Vastra a small nod, her gaze appreciative.
At that moment, Clara re-entered the room, glancing around the group, her expression a little sheepish under Vastra's intense scrutiny.
"Sit." Vastra ordered.
Clara complied, eyes wide with uncertainty.
Vastra looked between the pair of them. "What happened before he died?"
Hally hummed softly. "I wasn't there. You're better asking Clara."
Turning her focus to Clara, Vastra urged her to recount everything, to relive the events from Trenzalore onward with unrelenting patience.
"And then?" Vastra prompted, her voice a steady anchor as Clara trailed off.
Hally sat back in her chair, letting out a slow breath as her hearts settled back to a steady rhythm, the incessant buzzing in her mind quietening. She hadn't even realised she'd had a headache until it started to fade, a calming lull seeping into her muscles as her shoulders relaxed.
Clara was eyeing Vastra with confusion. "Why are you wearing your veil?"
Vastra didn't seem fazed. "And then?"
Clara shifted uncomfortably, folding her arms. "And then we got swallowed by a big dinosaur. You probably noticed."
Jenny tilted her head curiously. "How did it happen?"
"I don't know," Clara replied with a shrug. "I don't know. We were crashing about everywhere. The Doctor was gone. The TARDIS went haywire."
Hally gave Clara a faint smile. "He's not gone. He's upstairs."
Clara let out a frustrated sigh. "Okay, he changed."
"He regenerated," Vastra corrected, her tone even. "Renewed himself."
"Renewed. Fine," Clara muttered, arms still crossed.
Vastra gave her a curious look. "Such a cynical smile."
"I'm not smiling," Clara said, lips in a tight line.
"Not outwardly," Vastra murmured. "But I'm accustomed to seeing through a veil. How have I amused you?"
Clara sighed. "You said renewed. He doesn't… look renewed. He looks older."
Hally took another sip of tea, allowing the gentle warmth to work through her. If Vastra wanted to handle the human, she was more than happy to sit back and let her.
Vastra arched an eyebrow. "You thought he was young?"
Clara shot her a look. "He looked young."
"He looked like your dashing young gentleman friend," Vastra continued smoothly. "Your lover, even."
"Shut up."
"But he is The Doctor," Vastra said, her voice low and firm. "He has walked this universe for centuries untold, he has seen stars fall to dust. You might as well flirt with a mountain range."
"I did not flirt with him!" Clara shot Hally a wary look, her cheeks flushing.
Vastra leaned forward, eyes gleaming. "He flirted with you."
Clara looked bewildered. "How?"
Vastra gave her a pointed look. "He looked young. Who do you think that was for?"
Clara blinked, clearly taken aback. "Me?"
"Everyone. I wear a veil as he wore a face for the same reason."
Clara frowned. "What reason?"
Vastra's gaze was piercing. "The oldest reason there is for anything. To be accepted."
Vastra's words hung heavy in the air as she continued, "Jenny and I are married. Yet for appearance's sake, we maintain a pretence, in public, that she is my maid."
Jenny chimed in, her tone amused, "Doesn't exactly explain why I'm pouring tea in private."
"Hush now."
"Good pretence, isn't it?" Jenny quipped, sharing a wry look with Hally, who gave a small, sleepy smile.
"I wear a veil," Vastra explained, "to keep from view what many are pleased to call my disfigurement. I do not wear it as a courtesy to such people, but as a judgment on the quality of their hearts."
"Are you judging me?" Clara asked, her voice barely a whisper.
"The Doctor regenerated in your presence. The young man disappeared, the veil lifted. He trusted you." Vastra's gaze sharpened, assessing. "Are you judging him?"
Clara's face flushed, and she stood up abruptly, pacing the room in irritation. Hally had to bite her lip to suppress a smile.
"How dare you? How dare you?"
Clara began to pace more forcefully, cheeks flushed with anger, words tumbling out faster than before. "Marcus Aurelius. Roman emperor. Last of the five good 'uns. Stoic philosopher."
Vastra regarded her calmly. "Superlative bass guitarist. The Doctor really knows how to put a band together."
"The only pin-up I ever had on my wall when I was fifteen. The only one I ever had." Clara's tone grew sharper, her stance defiantly defensive. "I am not sure who you think you're talking to right now, Madame Vastra, but I have never had the slightest interest in pretty young men. And for the record, if there ever was anybody who could flirt with a mountain range, she's probably standing in front of you right now. Just because my pretty face has turned your head, do not assume that I am so easily distracted."
Vastra's lips quirked in a small, knowing smile.
"Whoo! Whoo." Jenny clapped her hands with a grin, whooping, before she caught the expression on her wife's face. "Sorry."
Vastra gave a small nod, impressed. "Well, goodness me. The lake is ruffled at last. I often wondered what you'd be like when you lost your temper."
Jenny leaned in with a mock-serious look. "Oi. Married."
"The Doctor needs us, Clara," Vastra said, her tone turning soft, almost gentle. "He is lost in the ruin of himself, and we must bring him home."
Clara blinked, her anger ebbing slightly, a quiet resignation settling over her features. She glanced at Vastra. "When did you stop wearing your veil?"
A warm, satisfied smile played at the edges of Vastra's mouth. "When you stopped seeing it."
The room rumbled with a bone-rattling screech and a roar from the river outside.
"That came from the river." Vastra said sharply, already moving.
"The dinosaur." Jenny murmured, her eyes widening.
"Strax!" Vastra called. "Bring the carriage, now!"
Hally braced herself to stand, but the moment she did, the world tilted and her vision blurred. She barely managed to catch herself before Clara reached out, steadying her.
"Whoa, are you alright?" Clara asked, eyes widening in concern.
Vastra was in front of Hally in an instant, her hands gently cupping Hally's face as she examined her with a scrutinizing gaze. "Jenny, how much exactly did you give her?"
Jenny offered a small, sheepish smile. "Only as much as she needed."
Vastra's expression softened with a mix of fondness and mild exasperation. "You don't say." She cast an amused glance at her wife before turning back to Hally, giving her a gentle nudge to settle her back in the chair.
"Stay here." Vastra's voice was soft but firm as she studied Hally, the hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "Relax."
Hally blinked, her head still swimming slightly, she opened her mouth to object. Vastra raised a finger, pressing it gently to Hally's lips. "Ah. Do I have to force you to sleep too?"
Hally let out a soft sigh, managing a faint smile as she shook her head. The earlier haze of exhaustion and relief washed over her, the tea's warmth still thrumming gently through her.
"Good," Vastra murmured, nodding in satisfaction. "We won't be long."
Clara looked from Hally to Vastra. "Did you drug her?" The accusation was clear in the human's voice.
Vastra gave Clara a wry look, the faintest trace of a smile tugging at her lips. "Calm yourself. It's nothing dangerous, just a blend to ease her rest." She glanced meaningfully at Hally, who was blinking drowsily, her stubborn will losing ground to the warmth of the tea. "She's been through a lot—more than she's willing to admit."
Clara opened her mouth, possibly to protest, but Vastra was already moving. "The dinosaur is waiting, Clara. We'll need to contain it."
Hally shifted in her seat, fighting the lull of sleep still creeping over her, and tried to sit up again. Vastra caught the movement in the corner of her eye and placed a steadying hand on her shoulder. "No, Hally. Stay here. That's an order."
Hally gave a faint smile, but her eyes were already half-closed. "You know, you're very bossy…"
"Rest, stubborn girl," Vastra replied, her tone softening. "Or next time, I'll double the dose." She gave a final, approving nod as Hally sank back into the chair, her head settling against its high back.
Clara cast one last glance at Hally, her concern easing as she took in the peaceful expression on her face. "Alright," she muttered, giving in. Clara glanced back as she and Vastra made their way toward the door, whispering, "If she wakes up in a mood, don't say I didn't warn you."
Vastra smirked. "Well, she'd hardly be herself otherwise."
The sound of footsteps and the closing of the door faded. Hally's eyes fluttered as she let herself sink further into the chair, her breathing slowing as the silence enveloped her.
Hally woke up not in the chair she'd drifted off in but in a quiet bedroom, sunlight slanting softly through the curtains. She blinked a few times, taking in her surroundings before the events of last night trickled back. A sigh escaped her as she stretched, Vastra's choice to drug her had been… effective, albeit presumptuous. But…she had to admit, reluctantly, the Silurian detective was probably right in having done it. She hadn't truly slept in days.
Swinging her legs off the bed, Hally reached for the dark red Victorian dress laid out for her, the fabric rich and sturdy under her fingers. Once dressed, she pulled her hair back into a tidy bun, catching a glimpse of herself in the room's small mirror. Rest had done wonders. She looked sharper, steadier, the hazy fog of exhaustion lifting just enough to clear her thoughts. But beneath it all, a thread of adrenaline still hummed, wound tight like a coiled spring.
As she made her way down the hall to the kitchen, she found Jenny tidying up and casting the occasional glance out the window. Spotting Hally, Jenny gave a nod of approval, her lips quirking up.
"Ah, you look much better, ma'am, if you don't mind me saying."
Hally's gaze sparked with a hint of a smile. "My ego will survive."
Jenny grinned and plated some food for her, setting it on the table. "Eat up," she encouraged. Hally took a seat, curiosity tugging at her.
"So…what happened last night?"
Jenny took a deep breath, explaining as she poured tea into a cup. "Well, the tyrannosaurus combusted, quite spontaneously. The Doctor was already there. He… disappeared." She shook her head, looking more bemused than surprised. "Strax is off trying to retrieve the TARDIS, hoping that if we park it back in the courtyard, it might draw him back to the house."
Hally nodded slowly, her thoughts started to run heavier with each piece of news. Despite the night's rest, a familiar tension returned, simmering just below the surface. A cup of tea appeared before her. "I hope you won't be offended if I politely decline," she said with a pointed look, her eyes glinting.
Jenny chuckled, shaking her head. "Understood. I'll tell Madame Vastra her plan might've been a bit much."
Hally's gaze drifted toward the window as Jenny moved about, her mind turning over each new detail. What she truly wanted was to get home. They had the TARDIS, she wasn't stranded but equally, she was hardly just going to up and abandon him. He was vulnerable and she wasn't completely sure how long it might take for his regeneration to settle. There were other things twisting inside her gut. Thoughts of home, of whether a certain someone was there, waiting for her or… not. Those thoughts, she purposefully drowned.
Something must have shown on her face because Jenny offered her a comforting look and continued in a soft tone, "Don't worry too much. We've got the Paternoster Irregulars out in force. If anyone can find him, they can."
Hally nodded, but Jenny wasn't finished.
"Madame Vastra will be a little occupied today, anyway, with the Conk-Singleton forgery case. And later, she's having the Camberwell child poisoner for dinner. Probably best to steer clear of the larder; it'll get a bit…noisy in there later."
"Noted," Hally said with a small smile and a nod.
Jenny gave a gentle pat on her shoulder. "If there's anything you need, just say the word."
"Thank you, Jenny," Hally replied. The faintest flicker of gratitude softened the tension in her voice.
After finishing breakfast, Hally decided to check on the TARDIS. She slipped outside, the cool morning air brushing against her skin as she approached the blue police box. She pressed her hand gently against the rough wood of the door, she could almost feel the TARDIS pulse beneath her fingers.
The doors were locked, which wasn't unusual, she had a strong sense that the TARDIS was just being protective of The Doctor, ensuring none of them could leave without him. She ran her fingers along the wood, feeling the warmth radiate from within. "Just hold tight," she whispered.
"Female!" a booming voice called from behind her, jolting her from her thoughts.
Hally turned to see Strax marching toward her, his expression serious, his short stature making him appear even more comical as he approached. "You are in need of a medical examination immediately."
"Strax, I'm fine," she said, sidestepping him with a grin. "Really. Just checking on the TARDIS."
"The TARDIS is not important! Your health is paramount!" Strax replied, puffing up his chest in indignation. He lunged forward, trying to take her arm, but Hally danced just out of reach, laughing lightly.
"Honestly, I feel wonderful!" she said, slipping away toward the door. Strax followed closely, his persistence unyielding.
"Medical examinations prevent future ailments! It is an essential procedure!" he argued, clearly not understanding her need for space.
Hally chuckled, her hearts lifting as she evaded him with playful agility. "I'll keep that in mind, Strax! But really, I have to—"
Strax, however, had already started to scan her.
"High levels of stress hormones. Significant cerebral activity," Strax declared. "Thought patterns indicate a preoccupation with loss, interspersed with feelings of longing and hope."
Hally raised an eyebrow, her smile fading slightly. "Stop looking at my brain!"
"Moving on to your physical condition," Strax continued, unfazed. The green light flared, illuminating her ribcage. "Good! Very good! Excellent lung capacity. I detect some recent physical activity that might have resulted in a strain in your lower back. An increase in heart rate and perspiration… ah, it appears you have bruised your cerv-"
"Okay! That's enough of that!"
Before he could continue, the front door of the house burst open. Clara rushed out, her face flushed and a newspaper clutched tightly in her hand. "Hally! There you are!" The human thankfully dragged her away from the Sontaran, pulling her back inside and into Vastra's chambers, where the dim lighting and rich decor contrasted sharply with the bright morning outside.
Inside, Clara thrust the newspaper at Hally, her eyes wide with urgency. "Look at this!"
Hally took the paper, glancing over the page before her gaze landed on the central advert. 'Impossible Girl. Lunch on the other side?'
Vastra's brow furrowed in concentration. "There appears to be nothing of significance in the rest of the newspaper. Not even in the agony column."
Jenny chimed in, "We can't know it's from The Doctor."
"Of course, it's from The Doctor," Clara said, her voice rising. "The Impossible Girl, that's what he calls me."
"He says lunch, but not when or where?" Vastra mused, her brow arching.
"On the other side? The other side of London? Bit vague," Jenny added.
"Or perhaps the other side of regeneration, once he's recovered?" Vastra suggested, a thoughtful look crossing her face.
"So what am I supposed to do, guess where we're meeting?" Clara clipped with frustration.
"Perhaps that's the point," Vastra replied, a hint of encouragement in her tone. "Maybe you're meant to prove that you still know him. Think what that must mean for a man who barely knows himself."
Hally took the newspaper and frowned at it, flipping it over. "Mancini's," she mused slowly.
The three women turned to her, and she pressed her finger against both sides of the page, turning it to reveal the advertisement directly on the opposite side. A grin spread across her face. "See?"
Clara opened and closed her mouth in surprise. "That was… less complicated than we were making it out to be."
Hally laughed lightly. "I do believe you've summed up my father." She rose to her feet. "Come on then, we'd better get a move on."
Vastra hummed, a knowing look in her eye. "The invitation is for Clara," she said, cocking an eyebrow at her.
Hally rolled her eyes. "Right, so we're letting her go alone?"
"Of course not," Vastra replied, also standing. Jenny looked between the two of them, uncertainty clouding her features. "But he didn't invite us. He invited Clara."
Hally crossed her arms defiantly. "I'm sure he won't mind."
Vastra's response was a low hum, a sound neither of agreement nor disagreement. "If you could both give us a moment." It took Clara and Jenny a second to realise Vastra was speaking to them, despite her gaze never leaving Hally.
The two women left the room awkwardly, leaving Hally and Vastra alone.
"She can't go into that restaurant on her own." Hally insisted.
"She won't be alone; she'll be with The Doctor." Vastra countered.
Hally opened her mouth, but Vastra continued. "You and your father understand one another. He trusts you. This invitation is for Clara. He has changed, and she must face that alone."
Hally sighed, relaxing her stance slightly as she began to understand Vastra's point. Her shoulders eased a fraction.
"Of course, we will follow, and if anything were to happen, we will be there to intervene." Vastra's sharp gaze met Hally's, contrasting with the slow, gentle smile that followed. "You do not have to be the protector all the time. Your part in saving him is done. Let yourself share the burden."
Hally let out a long breath, feeling the weight of Vastra's words. "Fine, but I'm coming with you."
Vastra nodded, her expression one of quiet approval. "That, you may."
Hally, Vastra, Jenny and Strax crouched in the shadows across from Mancini's, watching the restaurant carefully. They had agreed to give Clara thirty minutes alone with The Doctor before she'd contact them to let them know all was well, otherwise they'd enter the restaurant.
But the time seemed to tick by unbearably slowly. Hally shifted restlessly, her eyes scanning the windows, trying to catch a glimpse of The Doctor or Clara. She crossed her arms tightly, her frustration bubbling just beneath the surface.
"Patience, Hally." Vastra hummed.
She grumbled something to herself, forcing herself to sit with her back against the wall, resolved to have to simply sit and wait for time to pass.
When the agreed time passed and there was still no sign or signal from Clara, Vastra narrowed her gaze. "It's time."
"Finally!" Hally exclaimed, pulling herself rather ungracefully to her feet. The four of them crossed the street, slipping quietly into the quaint restaurant. At first glance, it seemed perfectly ordinary. Diners sat quietly, the clinking of silverware adding gentle background noise. But as they moved further into the room, Vastra's eyes narrowed, her gaze sliding over the patrons with a growing look of distaste.
"Those aren't people," Vastra hissed, her voice barely above a whisper.
The Doctor and Clara were nowhere to be seen.
Sensing the intent of their presence the 'people' rose mechanically from their seats, turning ominously towards the group. Faces blank but movements predatory.
Jenny's face curved with a smile, her hand already going to the hilt of her sword. "It appears we're crashing lunch service."
In seconds, the room erupted. The mechanical beings lunged at them, but Vastra and Jenny moved with practised ease, dispatching their opponents with fluid, deadly precision. Hally, slightly encumbered by the heavy Victorian dress, felt a flash of envy at Jenny and Vastra's form-fitting suits as they sidestepped and struck down their attackers with acrobatic grace.
One mechanical creature lunged at Hally, and she twisted out of the way, delivering a swift blow to its core. It stumbled back, gears grinding as it toppled to the floor. She dodged another attacker, knocking it down with a swift flick of her hand. Turning on her heel she pulled both hands up to shoulder height, yanking two of the beings in towards one another, smacking them against the other with a painful grind of gears.
The last mechanical being crumpled, and the restaurant fell silent again. Vastra stood still, head tilted as if listening, then reached up and tapped a small device at her collar. A faint blue light flickered—a signal.
"Clara's distress beacon," Jenny exhaled.
Without another word, the three moved through the building, Vastra tracking the signal downwards, below the restaurant to whatever lay underneath. They stopped, finding themselves above a large, circular service hatch. Vastra and Jenny exchanged a look, then turned to Hally, who nodded.
"On my signal," Vastra said, her voice barely audible. She counted down, then, in perfect unison, she and Jenny jumped.
In an effortless, graceful motion, the two descended from the ceiling. They landed softly, pulling out their blades from the scabbards on their backs, poised and ready.
A moment later, Hally dropped down into the space beside them, straightening up and taking in their surroundings. They were surrounded by more of the mechanical creatures, gears clicking and eyes rounding on them as they closed in from all sides. Hally's fingers twitched by her sides, eyes falling for a moment on The Doctor and Clara, both seemingly unharmed.
Vastra moved forward, her eyes sharp as her grip tightened on her blade. She assessed the man in front of her, half of his face covered by skin the other half uncovered, revealing the mechanism underneath. Unafraid and unwavering, her voice a steady command that cut through the thick air.
"Remain still, and lay down your weapons in the name of the British Empire," she ordered, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Above them, a crash echoed as Strax, fell to the floor with his enormous gun clutched in both hands. His attempt at a quiet descent clearly less successful than theirs. Vastra closed her eyes briefly, exasperation flickering across her face.
"Strax," Vastra hissed, as though speaking to a stubborn child.
"Sorry," he grunted, scrambling to his feet.
Jenny shot him a look, shaking her head. "I've told you before. Take the stairs."
From where he was observing, The Doctor raised an eyebrow, a wry smile curling at his lips. "Oh, look. The cavalry," he quipped, his voice dry as his eyes shifted to the half-human figure standing across from him.
The Half-Faced man sneered, his metal-clad gaze cold and unyielding. "I burned an ancient, beautiful creature for one inch of optic nerve. What do you think you can accomplish, little man?" He jolted forward, advancing on The Doctor as he backed away, straightening as he glanced at Vastra.
"What do you?" he asked, his expression calm but determined. "Vastra?"
Vastra needed no further prompt. She raised her sword, moving to force her blade against his weaponised hand. He kept advancing, slowed by Vastra forcing all her strength into keeping him back. "The establishment upstairs has been disabled with maximum prejudice," she informed, her voice certain and biting, "and the authorities summoned."
Clara blinked, surprised, and looked toward The Doctor. "Hang on, she called the police? We never do that. We should start."
The Doctor gave a shrug, glancing around the room with a slight, sardonic smile. "You see? Destroy us if you will, they're still going to close your restaurant." He paused, noting the few unimpressed looks he was receiving. "That was going to sound better."
"Then we will destroy you," the Half-Face man replied with finality, lifting his hand as he signalled to the others.
A synchronised motion followed, as every robot in the room extended blades from their arms, each one glinting under the dim light. Hally raised her hands defensively, but The Doctor shot her a quick look, his eyes flashing a silent plea for her to wait. She didn't lower her hands but she simultaneously didn't blow them up, waiting for the mechanised creatures to escalate.
The Doctor spoke again, his voice calm yet carrying an underlying urgency. "No, you won't. You're logical. You have restraint. You killed to survive. You're not a murderer."
Clara gave him a bewildered look. "He's not a what? This is a slaughterhouse."
The Doctor glanced back at her. "And how does that make it different from any other restaurant? You weren't vegetarian the last time I checked." He turned back to the Half-Face man. "This is over. Killing us won't change that. What would be the point?"
The Half-Face man's voice dropped, his words revealing a hint of desperation. "To find the promised land."
The Doctor tilted his head. "You're millions of years old. It's time you knew, there isn't one."
"I am in search of paradise," the Half-Face man insisted, the words laced with a sadness that could almost have been human.
The Doctor's eyes hardened, his voice becoming a low murmur. "Yeah, well, me too. I'm not going to make it either."
Without warning, the Half-Face man struck, his movement swift and brutal as he knocked The Doctor to the ground. Clara gasped, her voice filled with worry as she called out, "Doctor!"
The Half-Face man's gaze swept across the room, cold and calculating as he spoke to his mechanical companions. "I will leave in the escape capsule. Destroy where necessary."
Vastra's expression darkened, her grip tightening on her sword. "Escape capsule? This ship is millions of years old. It'll never fly."
The Half-Face man gave her a mocking smile. "It has been repaired."
Clara looked at him, her face pale as she pieced it together. "What with?"
The Half-Face man's smile grew, his voice laced with chilling satisfaction. "You."
Strax let out a fierce growl, adjusting his stance as he raised his gun, ready for battle. "Defensive positions, everyone!"
Clara's eyes darted to The Doctor, panic clear in her voice. "Doctor. He's getting away."
With that, the Half-Face man began to ascend, stepping onto the bench seat as he prepared to leave. His gaze swept over the room one last time, and he let out a derisive chuckle. "Your friend is intelligent. He'll know better than to follow me."
The Doctor, however, intelligent as ever. Was indeed following. As the seat ascended upwards, he ascended with it, clinging desperately to the bottom of the seat. The room filled with the mechanical clanking of the robotic army as they began to close in on Vastra, Jenny, Strax, Hally, and Clara, each of them readying themselves for impact.
The Doctor, meanwhile, disappeared from view.
The dim room seemed to pulse with tension, the looming figures of the droids closing in around them. Vastra's sharp gaze swept over the robotic army, her hand steady on her sword. She raised her chin, her voice steady, almost taunting.
"It is our intent to leave," she announced, each word dripping with confidence. "If it is your intent to stop us, perhaps we should get down to business."
Without further warning, the fighting commenced.
Vastra, Jenny, and Strax surged forward, blades flashing and guns firing. Hally, slightly behind them, stood her ground as the first wave of droids came at her. A flash of energy crackled from her palm, surging out in a bright wave that sent the nearest mechanical assailants flying backwards.
Vastra deftly swung her sword, meeting her target with precise, practised movements. She spared a quick glance back, her voice reaching Jenny over the clamour of the battle. "How many do you estimate, my dear?"
Jenny, expertly fending off two droids at once, replied without missing a beat. "More than upstairs. About twenty, thirty?"
Vastra's eyes narrowed. "The ones upstairs were mere decoys. These are battle-ready. I anticipate a challenge."
"Don't worry, my boy," Strax said, slapping Clara on the back, a gleeful grin on his face as he blasted another droid to pieces. "We shall die in glory!"
Clara, looking distinctly less enthusiastic, muttered under her breath. "Okay. Good-o."
Despite their efforts, the droids were relentless, constantly rising time and time again after being knocked down. Strax, growing frustrated, scowled as he aimed his gun at yet another reanimating droid. "Why can't you stay dead, coward?" he growled, firing again.
Meanwhile, Hally continued to unleash short, sharp bursts of energy, her hands emitting concentrated beams that sliced through metal as if it were paper. Yet even as she disassembled one droid, two more seemed to reappear in its place. Gritting her teeth, she let out a short, frustrated exhale. "This would be easier without a dress," she muttered, barely dodging a droid's blade as it sliced through the air just inches from her face.
A trio of droids managed to gain the advantage over Vastra, knocking her blade from her hand, holding her back. She struggled, but the droids' grip was iron-tight.
"Jenny!" Vastra's voice was laced with worry as she felt the cold metal of a sword tip press against her throat. Before Hally could take a breath, a droid slammed something heavy into the side of her head. Stars exploded across her vision as she crumpled to the ground, disoriented and gasping for breath.
"Hally!" She heard Clara's voice yell out.
Hally struggled to regain her bearings, bright lights flashing behind her eyes. She shifted, managing to turn onto her back. Pain sliced through her chest as a droid plunged its blade between her ribs, just skimming the top of her right heart, pinning her to the ground. Agony lanced through her, sharp and searing, and she cried out, a mix of surprise and agony. The blade detached from the droid as it straightened up, preparing to turn towards the others.
Clara, thinking on her feet, called out frantically, "Hold your breath. They're stupid. Everybody, hold their breath!"
They did. Each one took a deep breath before they stopped breathing.
With each pulse of pain, Hally felt the pressure in her chest build, the need for air almost immediately overwhelming. The pain radiated out across her chest, dragging with it the need to gasp, to breathe through it.
The effect was almost immediate, the droids faltered, their metal arms lowering in confusion. They seemed to consider them, look around and take pause. The slight reprieve was all Clara needed to scramble forward, slipping down to her hands and knees as she retrieved The Doctor's sonic screwdriver.
Hally could feel the edges of her skin burning as it tried to knit itself back together around the blade.
With a sharp grunt, she pulled the blade from her chest, lungs burning with the need to breathe.
Across the room, Strax was holding his gun steady, aiming at the nearest droid. But his breaths grew shallower, his face beginning to pale. Just as he raised his weapon again, Vastra called out to him, "Stop." He reluctantly lowered the gun, joining them as they continued to hold their breaths.
Clara, now standing by the door, frantically worked with the screwdriver, trying to activate it. But each press and flick brought only a flash and a sharp hiss. As the last of her breath escaped her lungs, she managed to gasp, "It's… not… working…"
Her chest now free of the blade, blood started to pool in her lungs. She coughed, loudly and took a deep, rasping breath in.
The droids were noticing, turning as they jolted back towards them, weapons rising to finish them off. There was a sudden, faint humming sound. All at once, the droids froze mid-motion, their swords still inches from flesh, then jerked forward, each one bending at the waist as if bowing. A strange whine echoed through the room as their mechanisms abruptly powered down, leaving them suspended in eerie stillness.
Relieved but exhausted, Clara stumbled, the sonic slipping from her fingers as her strength gave way. Hally, her breaths now heavy and ragged, managed to get to her feet, checking that the human was indeed breathing. Jenny, too, wavered. Vastra caught her with a swift, steadying arm, her gaze flickering between her fallen companions and the silent, deactivated droids surrounding them.
By the time Strax had guided the horse and carriage back to Vastra's house, the wound in her chest had healed. Although, the Sontaran had insisted on multiple scans to check no damage had been retained.
The Doctor, hadn't been found.
Although, the TARDIS was currently gone.
Strangely, she didn't panic. Instead, she took the opportunity to bathe, remove the blood from her skin, her own this time, and redress.
She found Clara in the drawing room with Vastra. Vastra looked up, a knowing glimmer in her eyes. "It appears you have both dressed to return home."
Hally glanced over Clara's attire, a hint of a smile creeping onto her face. "It appears we have."
Clara sighed, brushing a stray hair from her forehead. "I just wanted a change of clothes."
Just then, the familiar sound of the TARDIS engines echoed from outside, resonating like a heartbeat in the stillness of the room. Hally's face split into a smile, a weight lifting from her chest as she turned towards the direction of the sound.
"Clara," Vastra stopped the human as she made to run, her tone steady and encouraging, "give him hell. He'll always need it."
Clara nodded, determination flickering in her eyes. "I will."
Hally turned back to offer Vastra a smile. "Thank you."
She hummed, eyes twinkling. "No. Thank you."
Clara ran to the TARDIS as though afraid he'd take off without them again, her pace quick and determined. Hally trailed just behind her, catching up as they neared the blue box, slipping inside just after the human.
Hally took a long, fascinated look around at the new interior. The console room gleamed with a straightforward design, the console itself neat and compact, with a frieze of roundels tracing along the walls. A high-backed chair, plus a surprising addition of a small bookcase, gave the room an unexpectedly homely touch.
Clara, ever direct, glanced around and voiced her immediate impression. "You've redecorated."
The Doctor's voice was light but unbothered. "Yes."
Clara tilted her head, unimpressed. "I don't like it."
Hally watched as The Doctor shrugged, moving past the console. "Not completely entirely convinced myself," he admitted, casting a glance around the room. "I think there should be more round things on the walls. I used to have lots of round things. I wonder where I put them?"
Hally circled the console, tracing her fingers lightly over the controls as he moved past her. For a moment, he paused, touching his hand to her cheek with an unspoken fondness before he continued on. Turning, he looked at Clara, and his expression grew serious, more deliberate.
"I'm The Doctor," he began, his voice grounded with a newfound weight. "I've lived for over two thousand years, and not all of them were good. I've made many mistakes, and it's about time that I did something about that. Clara, I'm not your boyfriend."
Clara's eyebrows lifted slightly, caught off guard by the declaration. "I never thought you were."
"I never said it was your mistake." With that, he turned back to the console, setting the TARDIS into flight. Hally raised an eyebrow as he flicked his coat open with a bit of a flourish, revealing the deep red silk lining. It was all a bit theatrical, she smirked to herself. The trousers, however, did appear a tad too skinny, especially paired with the sturdy Doc Martens he had donned.
"What do you think?" he asked, a hint of self-satisfaction evident in his voice.
Clara brushed aside the question with a more pressing one of her own. "Who put that advert in the paper?"
The Doctor looked at her, a hint of suspicion flashing in his eyes. "Who gave you my number? A long time ago, remember? You were given the number of a computer helpline, and you ended up phoning the TARDIS. Who gave you that number?"
"The woman," Clara recalled, her voice trailing off as the memory clicked. "The woman in the shop."
Hally, listening with interest, looked between them.
"Then there's a woman out there who's very keen that we stay together." The Doctor murmured, the line of his mouth set in thought.
Suddenly, the TARDIS hummed, a deep, contented sound. They'd landed. Hally glanced over at the time rotor, which no longer rose and fell as it once did. She noted the change but pushed the thought aside as The Doctor turned to Clara.
"How do you feel on the subject?"
Clara looked up at him, her expression conflicted. "Am I home?"
"If you want to be," he answered, his gaze softer.
Her voice wavered, a pained apology on her lips. "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. But I don't think I know who you are anymore."
In that moment, her mobile phone chimed to life, a call vibrating it.
The Doctor gave a slight shrug. "You'd better get that. It might be your boyfriend."
Clara rolled her eyes, irritation flickering through her voice. "Shut up. I don't have a boyfriend."
As she headed outside to take the call, Hally and The Doctor exchanged a quick glance. Stepping out onto the street she was hit with the immediate scene of Earth, twenty-first century. She was home. The Doctor stood, waiting. Hally leaned against her father, using the contact the press towards him.
"Okay," her voice echoed in the space between them, "but I actually do need to go home."
"I know." He casually drew an arm up over her shoulder. He looked down at her, a softness behind his eyes that contrasted against the severe lines of his face. They watched as Clara continued her hushed conversation, drifting a few steps away from them.
Hally sniffed, a touch of annoyance in her voice. "Are we in Scotland?"
He took a moment, glancing up and down the street as though only just placing it himself. "I think we might be…"
She sighed. "Well, you will be giving me a lift home."
"Almost certainly," he answered, a faint, teasing edge slipping into his tone.
Clara's breath softened, releasing some of her tension, though her fingers gripped her phone tightly.
The Doctor watched her a moment longer, then called over with a lifted eyebrow, "So who is it?"
Clara glanced back at him, and Hally's eyes flicked from Clara's uncertain face to The Doctor, an eyebrow raised in question.
"Is that The Doctor?" He called over at her.
Clara looked over, she didn't shout back, but the pair of them could read the word on her mouth. "Yes."
Hally felt her brow furrow slightly, her own curiosity piqued.
The Doctor cleared his throat, an unnecessary action considering when he spoke it was still only in her mind. "You can talk to him too… if you want…"
Hally chuckled softly, and gave a slight shake of her head. "Why would I need to? You're right here." She nudged him lightly with her elbow, glancing up as a brief flicker of light sparked in his eyes at her words.
Clara sniffed, her gaze shifting back to them, he noticed, the slightest bit of fond concern rising to his face.
"Well?" he asked.
Clara blinked, her face drawn tight with a frown. "Well, what?"
He looked at her seriously, his eyes searching. "He asked you a question. Will you help me?"
Clara's lips pressed together for a moment, the hint of her old fire surfacing. "You shouldn't have been listening."
Hally couldn't help the soft bark of a laugh that escaped her, drawing Clara's frown towards her before it settled back on The Doctor. He shook his head, a faint smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I wasn't. I didn't need to. That was me talking. You can't see me, can you?" His voice softened, almost pleading. "You look at me, and you can't see me. Have you any idea what that's like? I'm not on the phone, I'm right here, standing in front of you." He paused, his eyes fixed on her with something raw beneath them. "Please, just… just see me."
Clara took a slow, hesitant step forward, her gaze fixed on him, studying his face carefully. She lingered on his eyes, searching for something familiar. Slowly, a small, warm smile curved her lips.
"Thank you," she said softly.
The Doctor looked back at her, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "For what?"
"For phoning," Clara replied, her voice barely a whisper before she threw her arms around his neck in a fierce hug, pulling him close.
"I, I don't think that I'm a hugging person now," he murmured, momentarily startled by the embrace.
Clara laughed lightly, pulling him closer. "I'm not sure you get a vote," she said, her voice a mix of affection and exasperation.
The Doctor gave in with a sigh. "Whatever you say."
Clara let him go, but as she stepped back, she looked around, taking in her surroundings with a frown. "This isn't my home, by the way."
Hally hummed in knowing agreement.
A sheepish expression crossed her father's face. "Sorry. I'm sorry about that. I missed."
Clara raised an eyebrow, sceptical. "Where are we?"
The Doctor glanced around, hands in his pockets. "Glasgow, I think."
She smirked, slipping into a mock Scottish accent. "Ah. You'll fit right in. Scottish."
He rolled his eyes, but a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Right." He glanced around, almost shyly. "Shall we, er… Do you want to go and get some coffee, or chips, or something? Or chips and coffee?"
Clara shook her head with a tired but fond smile. "Coffee. Coffee would be great."
The Doctor's face lit up, but Hally cleared her throat, turning on the pair of them. "Okay… no…" She let out a soft sigh and met his eyes, her tone that of a parent telling her children off. "Stepping in. You can get coffee in London. Where I live. I will make you coffee. Just please, Dad. Take me home."
The smile that followed pulled at the Doctor's face slowly, spreading as he nodded in understanding. "Come on then."
The TARDIS landed softly in her back garden. Hally stared out at the back patio doors through the monitor, her gaze distant and searching. After a few long, silent moments, she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Are you alright?"
She looked up at her father and forced a small smile onto her face, nodding. Clearing her throat, she took a step away from the console. "And you're sure it's been only a few days, yes?"
The Doctor tapped at the console, changing the view on the monitor before nodding. "Yes. 30th December. 13:41 in the afternoon. Five days after you left." He shot her an encouraging smile.
Nodding, she wrapped her arms around her chest. "Okay… good. Yes. Cool. Thanks. Right…" She turned to face the TARDIS doors, her hand pressed against the cold metal of the handle, ready to pull it open. Silence lingered as The Doctor and Clara watched her from the console.
But she didn't open it.
Behind the door was her life. Her home. She wanted so desperately to get back to them. To get back to Lily. But opening that door also meant facing the very real possibility that the Master hadn't made it back. What was she going to do if he hadn't? He'd taken off in a broken TARDIS. Maybe it had been fine; maybe it had even been fixed. It had felt worth the risk at the time. It had felt like their only option.
The Doctor had managed to land five days after they'd left, and that was with a TARDIS in vaguely functioning condition. What if The Master's navigation systems had been out? What if he'd escaped Gallifrey only to end up stranded in the fifty-first century? Or worse—careened into a supernova.
He wasn't here.
She could feel it.
The pit in her stomach, the chill creeping up her spine.
She already knew he wasn't here.
What had her motionless was the fear of what would happen next.
What was she going to tell her daughter?
How was she going to fix this?
A gentle warmth covered her hand, still hovering on the door handle. The Doctor's hand rested over hers, and he slowly pulled the TARDIS door open.
Cool air hit her face, and she took in a shaky breath.
"I can't do this…" Her voice was barely a whisper.
"Yes, you can. Of course, you can," he rumbled, his voice close to her ear.
"I can't."
"What's the alternative?" The way he said it, it was almost harsh, leaving no room for doubt or self-pity. She turned to look at him, a little taken aback by the fierceness within his gaze. He'd meant it, his question. What was the alternative?
What? To run? To leave? To not face it? To not have to deal with the crushing disappointment again. To run away from all of it and pretend she had no responsibilities. Pretend she wasn't unbearably broken. To disappear into nothing. To stop all of it. To stop existing altogether.
She swallowed.
No.
There wasn't an alternative.
There was only this and she would have to face it.
She stepped out of the TARDIS, into her garden.
The grass was vividly green beneath her feet, grounding her, bringing her back. She turned back to The Doctor, slotting herself back together. "Give me ten minutes, just to ease her into it… then you can come and say hi."
He nodded, and as she turned, she heard the door click softly shut behind her.
The back patio door was open, which meant they were in—somewhere. Not the kitchen or the lounge, but as she glanced through the lounge window, her face softened with a smile. Jack and Lily were out front, Jack helping Lily on her bike, holding her steady as she rode without stabilizers.
Hally stayed there for a few moments, watching, letting the quiet warmth settle over her, before she took a deep breath and headed to the front door. She opened it and stepped out. Lily saw her first. The little girl's face broke into a radiant smile as she let go of the bike, dashing across the garden to her.
Hally scooped Lily up, wrapping her arms around her in a tight, all-consuming hug.
"Oh, I missed you…" She pressed a kiss into her hair, breathing in her scent.
Lily squeezed her tight. "It's ok, Mummy. It was only a few days." Hally laughed softly and kissed all over her face, making Lily giggle. Jack watched fondly before coming over to steal a hug from her. Hally let out a soft breath, looking between the both of them.
"Well… mummy has quite a long story to tell you but first, we should go and say hi to Grandad, ok?" She let Lily down who nodded, beaming. Hally, holding her daughter's hand, led her and Jack through to the kitchen, where they settled by the door to the garden. Hally sat down beside Lily, pulling her close, making sure they were at eye level. She kept her voice soft but steady, a small smile on her face.
"Alright, Lils. Remember all the times we've talked about regeneration?"
Lily's face showed a hint of curiosity mixed with a faint frown, but she nodded.
Hally took a breath, steadying herself. "And remember how I've told you that one day, Grandad might look different? And how we spoke about all the ways he might change?"
Lily's face brightened a little with understanding, nodding more enthusiastically. "Yes. But that inside he's always still Grandad."
Hally's smile grew, nodding in return. "Exactly right. Well… while we were away, he regenerated." She watched her daughter closely as she continued, keeping her tone calm but gently matter-of-fact. "But he's alright. He's okay, Lils." She gave a reassuring smile, leaning in. "It's just that he's got a whole new face now. A brand-new look for Grandad."
Lily's eyes sparkled with curiosity and a bit of wonder. "Can I see?"
Hally nodded, feeling a little of her own nerves fade as she took Lily's hand, standing up with her. "Of course, you can. I just wanted to remind you first that he's still the same Grandad on the inside. He still loves you very, very much, just like always."
Lily's small face broke into a smile of her own. "I know."
Hally squeezed her daughter's hand, sharing a proud, grateful glance with Jack. With a warm smile, she turned to the TARDIS, giving the door a gentle knock.
The TARDIS door creaked open, and The Doctor stepped out. His eyes were bright, scanning his surroundings with the same curiosity he'd always had, but now touched with a hint of nervousness. He stopped, taking in the sight of Hally holding Lily's hand just a few steps away, Jack standing nearby, watching with a steady smile.
Lily's eyes went wide as she took in The Doctor's unfamiliar face, her small hand clutching tightly at Hally's fingers. She looked back up at her mother, eyebrows furrowed as if searching for some reassurance.
Hally crouched down beside her, brushing a stray curl out of her daughter's face. "It's still Grandad, sweetheart. I promise."
Lily looked back at him, her grip loosening slightly, but she didn't move.
The Doctor, catching her hesitation, slowly knelt down to her level, a warm smile spreading across his face. He held out his hand, palm up and open. "Hello, Lily." He said gently, his voice warm and familiar beneath the new tone.
Lily looked at his hand, then his face. She blinked, as though testing to see if he'd disappear or turn into something else. Finally, she inched forward, curiosity slowly overpowering her wariness. She reached out a small finger and poked his cheek, her touch tentative, as if testing to see if he was real.
The Doctor stayed still, his smile growing as he watched her. When she gave his face a firmer poke and then let out a tiny laugh, he grinned back at her.
Lily's laughter rang out, and in a sudden burst of excitement, she flung her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. The Doctor let out a bark of a laugh, lifting her into the air, spinning her round. "What a clever girl you are." He grinned, shooting a look back to Clara who was hovering in the TARDIS doorway. "See, the concept isn't that hard to grasp."
Clara shot him a playful glare. "Yes, alright. Outsmarted by a seven-year-old." The human crossed her arms over her chest.
Lily grinned, her eyes never leaving The Doctor's face. She reached up, grabbing both his cheeks and squishing them playfully, studying his new look as though committing it to memory. "I like your new face," she declared proudly. "It's… squishy." She poked his cheek again, her small fingers pressing into his skin until he chuckled.
"Oh, good," The Doctor said, laughing as she continued to pat his face. "Squishy, old face is here to stay."
Lily cocked her head to one side, squinting thoughtfully as she inspected him. Her gaze shifted from his cheeks to his eyebrows, and a mischievous grin crept across her face.
"Your eyebrows look like caterpillars," she said, giggling, reaching up to trace them with her finger.
The Doctor laughed, feigning a look of horror, his eyes widening in mock surprise. "Caterpillars? These, my dear Lily, are highly distinguished eyebrows!" He arched one, attempting a dramatic expression, but this only made her giggle harder.
"And…" The Doctor continued, leaning in close to Lily and lowering his voice as though sharing a great secret, "They're not just for show, you know. I've had to grow extra-special eyebrows so I can communicate with anyone."
Lily gasped, eyes wide. "Really?"
"Really," The Doctor replied, his face solemn but a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "These eyebrows," he tapped his forehead, "will save planets, little one. Don't underestimate their power!"
Her daughter laughed a carefree shriek, hugging The Doctor tight.
The Doctor stayed, his TARDIS parked neatly beside Hally's house for what Lily gleefully called a "TARDIS sleepover." After dropping Clara home, he'd returned and settled in for a whole week. They made up for lost time, redoing Christmas complete with presents and an overabundance of food. The Doctor insisted on setting up an entire mini-tree inside the TARDIS, and Lily had decorated it herself with mismatched ornaments. They even rang in the New Year together, bundled up against the chill, watching the fireworks burst over the city.
Then, one quiet evening, Hally and The Doctor sat Lily down. They told her a carefully softened version of the story that had taken them from Trenzalore to Gallifrey and all the way back to Victorian London. Lily listened wide-eyed, enraptured, and occasionally glancing between the two of them as they took turns narrating the tale. She gasped and laughed in all the right places, clinging to Hally's arm, beaming at her Grandad as he recounted their dramatic escape. When the story finished, she looked at them both with an excited sparkle in her eyes. She seemed to accept with a surprising calmness that "Daddy" was still somewhere out there but hadn't come home just yet.
After she'd gone to bed, Hally found herself standing by the window, staring out at the TARDIS lights glowing softly in the night. The Doctor joined her, settling beside her in silence for a moment. Eventually, he broke it, his tone gentle.
"You're quiet tonight."
She shrugged lightly. "I'm just… happy she's happy, I guess. Grateful." She looked over at him, a soft smile on her face. "She took it all so well. I'm not sure I would've."
"She's resilient, like her mother," The Doctor murmured, a warmth in his voice. "Though I'm not entirely surprised. You have filled that girl's life with so much love."
Hally nodded, though something thoughtful lingered in her expression. She glanced back out the window, her hand wrapped tightly around the warm mug she held. "Thank you, for staying. It… means a lot, and-"
The Doctor's gaze softened, and he reached over, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You don't need to thank me."
She leaned into his touch, letting out a soft hum, a gentle smile creeping onto her face. "Well I will anyway." She paused for a long moment. "And on Trenzalore… you waited, all that time…"
She could feel his gaze lingering, unwavering.
"I did."
Her hearts ached, bittersweet. "You shouldn't have done..."
"But I promised you I would."
A silence fell between them, she couldn't quite find the words. Yet, he seemed to understand. He reached up, cupping the back of her head and pulling her close. With quiet tenderness, he pressed a kiss to her forehead, lingering there for a moment.
The TARDIS had finally disappeared from her back lawn, the steady whoosh of its departure settling into a dull ache as it vanished from view. She and The Doctor had agreed to return to their regular Sunday visits. But as soon as he'd left, a familiar, bitter tightness clawed its way up her chest. She excused herself to the kitchen, feigning an interest in making tea, though she knew full well the true purpose was to stave off tears she hadn't realised were waiting.
The Doctor's presence had been a welcome distraction, a weight against the emptiness that loomed when she allowed herself too much time to think. With him there, she'd focused on Lily, on them, anything to push away the maelstrom that lingered beneath. But now, he was gone, and the momentary relief went with him, baring the harsh reality of it all.
The Master wasn't here.
The thought alone was enough to start the slow trickle of tears, the prickle of that hollow ache starting to unwind, spilling over. She sniffled, fighting it back, willing herself to breathe.
Her phone buzzed violently in her pocket, the insistent vibrations unmistakably a call. She ignored it, focused on a spot on the counter instead, forcing herself to take slow, even breaths. She let it ring out. Trying and failing to wipe her eyes, to stem the stream that was threatening to burst.
A few seconds after the ringing stopped, her phone vibrated violently again, buzzing in her pocket like it had no intention of stopping. She pulled it out, half-expecting to see Kate's number—but instead, the caller ID showed Lily's school.
On a Sunday?
Her frown deepened. She glanced out of the kitchen window, where Jack was still playing with Lily in the garden. She pressed the red button, sending the call to voicemail.
Barely two seconds later, the screen lit up with the same number.
Exhaling sharply, she picked up, a hint of irritation slipping into her voice. "Yes?"
"Ohhh, there's an attitude and a half…" a smooth, teasing voice purred in her ear.
Hally's shoulders tensed. "Sorry, now isn't…" She cleared her throat quickly, trying to mask the crack in her voice as she wiped away the remnants of tears. "It's not a good time."
The headmistress tutted, as if her sympathy only extended to being mildly entertained. "My, my, all that sniffling. Must be quite the tragedy." Hally felt her face flush, an urge to hang up barely restrained by sheer force of will. The headmistress, unfazed, continued. "But, as a good friend of mine always used to say, 'Everything will be alright in the end, and if it's not alright, it's not the end.'" Her voice lilted into the inconsistent Scottish drawl.
Hally blinked, caught off-guard. "No, I think that was John Lennon."
"That's precisely what I said, darling. Do pay attention," came the airy reply.
Hally gritted her teeth, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Right…" she managed, forcing herself to sound polite. "What was it you were calling for?"
"Parents' evening," the headmistress clipped as if the reason was glaringly obvious. "You've missed the last four, if we're keeping count. Which I am."
Hally's brow furrowed, her hand clutching the phone a little tighter. "I went to the first one…"
"Oh, but I was dreadfully occupied, so it doesn't count, does it?" She quipped back immediately, a hum of a laugh in her voice.
"Right…" Hally could feel the impatience edging into her voice. "When is it?"
The headmistress didn't answer immediately, letting a heavy silence fall between them before she cooed slowly, "Are you having trouble keeping on top of your calendar?"
Hally felt her jaw clench, moving herself to quickly check the family calendar Jack kept meticulously updated in the kitchen. "Umm… two weeks on Tuesday?"
"That's the one."
"Yes. Yes, I should be there."
"Wonderful, I'm sure Lily will be thrilled to show you what she's been up to."
Hally rolled her eyes, letting out a quiet sigh. "Just tug on my parental guilt, why don't you…"
"What was that?" The headmistress's voice sharpened, her tone feigning innocence.
"Nothing."
"Don't mumble, dear, it's terribly rude." The woman forced out the last word with far too much emphasis.
"Was that all?" Hally asked, her voice tight with a forced politeness.
"Quite."
"Great."
"Now, off you go, dear, be a big girl and dry your eyes. Two weeks on Tuesday."
"Yes. Yes. Okay. Bye."
She barely waited for a response before she ended the call, dropping the phone onto the counter with a scoff. She took a breath, and then, despite herself, barked a laugh.
Well.
She supposed she wasn't crying anymore.