Chapter Text
Chapter 12- Countdown
The blue SUV shook as it drove through the ally, Clara groaned as her shoulder slammed into the side of the car once again. Couldn’t they choose a more even road?
“Now, remember the plan. Go in smoothly and cautiously, the warehouse house should be clear besides the contraband but we will still be safe. Once the subjects are secured, we shall call in the other teams to follow, and load up the cargo. Are we clear?”
Everyone nodded and verbally confirmed. Clara watched as Kate turned her face back to the road ahead, every so often casting her eyes over to Osgood who was driving. She trusted Kate for some reason. It’s not like the blond was a complete stranger, many times she been around TARDIS, it’s just that Clara knew deep down that she could trust her.
The rundown building slowly came into view as they crept up upon it. Osgood cut the engines, scanning the region with her eye’s, scouting out the surrounding area. Clara could feel her stomach start to twist into knots. Her breathing increased, but she soon gained control, and forced her mind to settle. ‘It’s going to be fine, just a simple drop off’
Yet something continued to tug at the back of her mind…
As they pulled up, Kate radioed to the rest of the fleet vehicles to stay out of sight but within a mile proximity. UNIT and Ashildr both brought about a dozen men each to aid in the removal of the goods, and to serve as back up in case a surprise was triggered.
Osgood brought the truck to a stop, and everyone started to unload. The Doctor had been quiet most of the ride, minus a few comments reassuring Osgood regarding her navigation. He was glaring, like always, but he seemed cautious and nervous…
“What’s wrong?” Clara asked the Doctor as she came to stand beside him. He jumped, startled by her question and spun around to look at the short woman.
“Gods Clara, can you not do that! Your lack of stature is unnerving enough- I don’t need you sneaking up on me on top of that.”
Clara had to stifle a laugh at the man in front of her, his creased eyebrows and outrageous hair made him seem like an old floofy owl. He had been letting it grow longer, not that she really noticed or cared that his longer locks made him look even sexier. Brain, Shut up!
“I’d avoiding catching your reflection in the side mirror then- those eyebrows will have you running all the way back to TARDIS in fright.” Clara laughed and set a wink his way. The Doctor tried to keep his mask of indifference up but it soon caved and a slight smile broke through. After she had been assigned to him their banter had increased, more digs and jabs at each other but lately, their insults are less insulting and side comments less sarcastically offensive. Clara knew she would have to think more on this topic later, but now was most certainly not the time- she had a mission.
As they entered the warehouse, Clara felt tense and grew increasingly uneasy. It was a huge space whose four walls let light in through the giant broken factory windows placed high above their heads. Some old machinery lay around; some still its original place while others were scattered around the dusty and dirty floor.
“Are you sure that no one is here?” she said slowly, raising her head and slowly circling and cataloging her surroundings within her head.
“Of course Miss. Oswald, Osgood has assured me that the premise is secured.” A crackle of static could be heard through the earpieces and soon Osgood’s voice filled their ear’s.
“Everything is reading clear from this side Clara, but I must agree with you, taking caution when proceeding though here should be advised.” Clara nodded even though she knew Osgood couldn’t see her.
Then there was a deafening explosion and she felt her body lift from the ground below only to meet it again a few feet away. Her ears were ringing loudly- most definitely a sizable explosion. She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head, but nothing cleared her chaotic mind. She blinked through the dust and crouched instead of stood. ‘It wouldn’t be helpful if I got shot now’ she thought.
Soon the area was filled with the sounds of gunfire and shouting; a symphony of chaos. Kate gave orders for UNIT, and Ashildr cleared her backup to storm in and returned fire on all the Dalek insurgents. Clara dove for a nearby pillar seeking shelter from the bullets, she could feel her training being triggered as she reached for her weapon. She cleared her mind and focused on the task at hand, get her team out alive. She steadied her hand and aimed at the target; fire. She breathed out, spotted another target and aimed her weapon; fire.
While Clara continued to expertly gun down the enemy insurgents, Osgood and Kate were taking cover behind crates near the south wall. The duo knocking down targets one by one, their synchronicity and chemistry on the battlefield was an overpowering force to be recon with. The Doctor soon appeared beside them, seemingly coming out of nowhere, but there wasn’t time to answer that question now.
“Look at you two; simpatico!” he said just before turning away and prepping to run towards the north entrance where they entered and where Ashildr was currently held up. He had a plan to get Ashildr with a few of her men to try and ambush the Daleks from behind, but he had to get over their first. He noticed a stack of wooden pallets with thick bags gathered on each end in the middle of the warehouse floor are- the dismal cover would have to do, he was simply using it to get over to the other side anyway. With that, he sucked in a breath and sprinted at the barrier, dropping down into a slide enabling him to make it perfectly behind. He could hear the gun fire trying to pierce the pallets, wood chips splinted off and littered the surrounding area; he needed to move, and do it fast. He quickly peaked through a space near the think bags and look up to see where he was the fire was coming from, but as he noticed the gunman, something else caught his eye.
Someone else. And he felt every bone in his body freeze, every muscle once energized, stiff.
Clara watched as the Doctor sprinted to the misshaped wooden shanty in the middle of the room, she couldn’t help but think ‘geez, is he trying to kill himself?!’. She heard more shots wiz by her and she gun downed two more men but when she returned her sights to the Doctor she saw him frozen and facing the gunfire. She shouting at him to move out of the way!
Why wasn’t he moving?
He needed to take cover somewhere else! Run!
Fire back!
‘Anything!’
Clara knew that after a second of him not moving, she would need to intervene. She quickly glanced back to the corner where shots were being fired at her earlier, checking if the shooter was still there. She launched herself back behind the pillar just as a shot was fired right at her previous spot. Clara shut her eyes and tried to calm her gasping lungs, she needed to focus. Clara opened her eyes and narrowed them in determination as she blew out a calming breath. She slowly slid her back against the pillar so she could peak around the corner again. She waited a second, silencing the battle in the background, and then she quickly spun out into the open space and fired into the crook. She watched as shocked spread across her targets face and he slowly slumped back in to the wall, now lifeless.
Clara started running to the Doctors position, estimating that he was about 30 paces away; she saw how focused his gaze was, his eyes aimed upwards. She chanced a look to where she believed he was focused and she noticed a figure cast in an orange glow from the flames bellow them. It was a very old man, heavily wrinkled with his eye’s barley open it seemed. He was talking. Clara could just barely make out what he was saying… something about an old friend?
Very strange, but she could focus on that now.
Before Clara turned away she caught the shimmer of a metallic something that appeared to be on the man’s forehead, but then a wall of flames erupted in front of the figure.
This was her chance, Clara braced herself, ran, and bulldozed into the Doctor, saving him at the last minute from the tendrils of flames and heat that engulfed the wood and flammable material. The tripped and stumbled on the side of the wall, tucked behind Ashildr’s fighters just as another explosion hit near them, ‘surely that one would have done the old man in if she hadn’t saved his arse’.
“What the hell were you doing?!” She yelled at the man beside her as she wiped the sweat from her forehead and around her eyes, clearing her vision of wood chips and other debris. When he didn’t respond to her, she wiped her head around almost ready to punch him before she saw his expression. The Doctor was staring wide-eyed, mouth half opened with an expression mixed with fear and confusion- comatose sights on the spot where that man had been before. He’d look like he had seen a ghost.
“Doctor, what’s wrong, who was that?” Clara gently asked. She was surprised when he responded, clear and strong- not wavering.
“Davros.”
A spark went through her mind; Clara knew that name- but where?
Oh.
Oh no.
The story that Jenny had told her, that where the name was from. But Clara’s thoughts were interrupted by the Doctor’s voice.
“Thank you, Clara. You saved my life.” His eyes appeared more green then blue, changed from what they were a moment ago. He was more collected now, mask back on but she could see through a tiny bit, he was grateful and truly thanking her. Before she could form her apology, shouting broke the pair apart.
Kate and Ashildr were advancing their attack on their retreating opponent, the gunfire lessening as the Daleks were either sent out of the warehouse or shot down. Clara and the Doctor remained shocked on the floor, watching as the two women led the charge and successfully driving out the Daleks.
Everything moved quickly after that. Scouts were left to patrol the area with orders to bring in anyone they found for interrogation, the bodies were cleaned up and the warehouse fixed to look less like a battle zone. Everyone was taken back to TARDIS, supplied with rooms, medical attention, and hot meals. It would take some time to absorb everything that happened today.
Those in charge convened in the Doctor’s quarters, the blue steel casting longer shadows than when they met here before. Tensions were high; it was going to be a long night.
Thankfully everyone was mostly silent, most likely replaying everything that went on today. The Doctor looked around at the people currently seated at a table, trusted members of each group. UNITS officers consisted of Kate, Osgood, Sargent Benton and Captain Yates while Ashildr selected a ragtag looking group from her men, their faces unfamiliar. From TARDIS were people who either had influence and respect from all: Jack, Sarah Jane, Vastra and himself. His gaze wondered to the seat near the middle of the huddle, next to Jack as she walked him through the attack; Clara. She wasn’t necessarily supposed to be present in a meeting like this but after today- he felt the need to have her closer. Which lead to feelings he was not keen on working through right now.
“Excuse me,” he spoke loud enough for everyone to hear. Those at the table went silent and shift their focus to the calm, grey-haired man. “As I’m sure most of you know by now, either from being present or informed by others present, an ambush occurred at our meeting point. This meeting shall be about the debriefing of what took place and how we should move forth, together.”
All those present spoke and listened deep into the night and into the morning. After everything was over, everyone was sent to bed knowing that tomorrow there would be a meeting with everyone: TARDIS, UNIT, and Lay Me’s people to discuss what had happened and where they go from here. People slowly filtered out, saying last-minute comments to each other with promises to talk in the morning after much-needed sleep.
Clara started to walk out with Jack and the other women when she noticed the Doctor at the table. His stare was vacant and cast upon the orange light in the room, his brow furrowed and mind lost within dark thoughts it seemed.
“I’m going to go talk with him, have a goodnight guys.” As she started to walk away, she caught the fading conversation of Jack and Sarah Jane.
“He doesn’t do well with emotions, especially after something like this,” said Sarah Jane.
“I know, but if anyone can get through to him, it’s Clara,” Jack replied, their words but whispers now.
Clara approached the Doctor as everyone left the room, she could hear the door close behind her. He sat in his chair looking pained and heartbroken almost- it hurt her to see him like this.
“Doctor?”
He jostled and snapped his head to the sound of her voice, blinking up at her through blurry eyes. The green surrounded by unshed tears quickly being blinked away then whisked off by rough hands. The Doctor abruptly stood, forcing Clara to step back so he could stomp towards the couched area.
“Go to bed, Clara.” He growled
Why did he have to be like this?
He proceeded to sit down on a couch, but then grimaced and laid down. Clara saw how he rubbed his head and neck, assuming he had a headache caused by the day’s events and long meeting. The Doctor closed his eyes and sighed, remaining still on the couch, so she decided to sit beside him.
Clara silently walked over to him, and gently picked up the Doctors head and rested it on her lap once she sat. His eyes opened wide and glared at Clara in shock and anger but curious as to what she was doing.
“It seemed to me that you might have a headache and your neck is bothering you, so I wanted to help,” she said while gazing down at him. He looked defensive and scared as she slowly brought her hand to his hair, gently running her fingers through the soft curls. The Doctors eyes slid shut and a moan escaped him in response to the pleasurable feeling. As Clara continued her caress, she started to calm her racing mind. Something was obviously developing between her and the Doctor: the bantering, the looks, the kiss and the others comments and whispers containing both their names. Whatever it was though, she knew she would have to talk to him about it soon, but soon wasn’t now. Right now' they just laid there, drawing comfort from each other’s presence and gradually excepting the mutual connection they both felt while drifting off to sleep.