Hey so I made two failed attempts at Clara/Crowley stories, but was recently inspired to give it another go, so here it is, third time lucky!

I hope I get you to ship this insanely random pairing :D

"Clara? Clara, I need your help. Now would be a fine time."

Clara frowned at the sudden outburst from the Doctor, the door to her flat still swinging on its hinges from where he had boisterously flung it open moments previously.

"Is something wrong?" She arched an eyebrow delicately and surveyed his dishevelled appearance, his short grey hair even more scruffy than usual and his clothes slightly ruffled. "You don't look great."

"Save the compliments for later, we've got to go," The enigmatic Time Lord grabbed her hand and she let out a small squeak of surprise as he pulled her to her feet. She soon found herself running out the door, struggling to keep up with the Doctor's quick pace. Damn him and his long legs.

"Doctor, what's going on?" She panted, willing him to slow down for just a second so she could catch her breath. A sudden thought occurred to her as she realised the unusualness of the situation. "Where's the Tardis?"

"The Tardis is actually the problem," The Doctor sighed sullenly, dragging Clara around a sharp corner where the familiar blue box suddenly came into her line of sight. Clara removed herself from the alien's grip and approached the box briskly with a dubious frown. She stopped just short of the doors and spun to face her friend.

"She looks fine to me," She shrugged nonchalantly, failing to see the predicament. "Might need a bit of a paint job, but apart from that…"

"Everyone's a critic," The Doctor grumbled, pushing past her and making his way into the Tardis. He snapped his fingers repeatedly as he fought for the correct words, vexed. "The problem isn't strictly visible per say."

"You're saying the Tardis is… Sick?" Clara chanced cautiously, stepping inside the blue police box. This was new.

"To some extent, yes, that's exactly what I'm saying," The Doctor replied curtly, pressing his lips together in a thin line as he brushed a finger across the console tentatively. "Not the precise words I would've chosen though."

"Then what's wrong with her?" Clara looked around the control room, straining to find any sign of ailment, but coming up blank.

"I think the Tardis has been cursed," The Doctor stated gravely, and Clara snapped her eyes up to meet his in shock at his words. She took a careful step forward, her mouth forming a small expression of confusion.

"Cursed?" She spluttered, a half smile of disbelief flitting across her features, her eyebrows drawing together at the statement. "What do you mean cursed? I saw you three days ago! Did you disturb a coven of witches while you were gone or something?!"

"Listen, Clara, it's more complicated than that," The Doctor pinched the bridge of his nose and squeezed his eyes shut for a moment to relieve his stress. "I was in America- What?"

"Sorry," Clara wiped the smirk from her face quickly and stifled her scoff. "Just… Anywhere in space and time and you chose America?"

"It's a free country," The Doctor pursed his lips with a brooding glare. "Anyway, as I was saying, I was in America, when I came across this pair of hunters."

He flexed his long, thin fingers as a low groan emitted from somewhere deep inside the Tardis' core, distracting him for a moment.

"Winchesters, they called themselves. They said they dealt with the supernatural. I decided to help them out on a 'hunt'. I was curious. You know how it is, you're always curious. You never stop asking questions and poking your nose around where you shouldn't."

"Uh, Doctor, that's you," Clara corrected briskly, too used to his vexing comments by now to feel irked by them. "What… What kind of things do they hunt?" She questioned nervously, unsure where this conversation was headed.

"Vampires, wendigos, ghosts, demons, witches… Yes, surprising, I know, but I'm not one to judge," The Doctor shot an anxious glance at the console, as if afraid it would explode at any second. "They were dealing with a witch, an extremely powerful one. I know I shouldn't have got involved but-"

"No, Doctor, you shouldn't have!" Clara burst out tersely, a feeling of dread washing over her. This was bad. "You should have left it to the Winchesters, or whatever they're called. Now your Tardis is cursed, and we're standing inside it! What if I'm cursed now too? What if it's contagious?"

"I highly doubt a curse is contagious, Clara," The Doctor shook his head with a chiding tone. "But the Tardis isn't running properly. Her support systems are unstable, she's been acting up…" He took a deep breath with a grim look in his eyes that unsettled Clara. "There's something… Dark inside her. And if we don't do something about it, who knows what could happen."

"Nothing good, that's for sure," Clara muttered darkly, a shiver running down her spine. Ten minutes ago she had been in her flat, correcting homework with a decent cup of coffee. Now she was standing inside a cursed spaceship, feeling as if a huge weight had been plonked forcefully onto her shoulders. She sighed heavily and cast an uneasy glance around the room before letting her eyes settle on the Doctor once more.

"So what's the plan?" She pressed her lips together determinedly and looked up at him. "And don't tell me you haven't got one or so help me, Doctor."

"Oh I have a plan," The Doctor shuffled from foot to foot uncomfortably, avoiding her searching gaze. "I'm just not sure you'll like it."

"Whatever it is, I'm in," Clara sighed resignedly. The Tardis and herself might not get along all that well, but still she was adamant that she would help save it, regardless of the consequences. If it mattered to the Doctor, it mattered to her.

"You don't know what it is yet," The Doctor replied in a foreboding tone, spinning on his heels abruptly and leaving the room, motioning for Clara to follow him with a languid wave of his arm.

Her thoughts whizzed around her head like a crowd of disorientated hummingbirds as she followed him through the twists and turns of the Tardis tunnels. She felt apprehensive about this plan, whatever it was, and hurried to keep up with the Doctor's long strides as they ventured into a part of the Tardis that was unfamiliar to her.

As the descended a narrow flight of stairs, Clara stopped for a moment and strained her ears with a small gasp, listening. A feather light hushed whispering could be heard, dancing around her as if it was coming from the very walls of the ship itself. She struggled to make out the words, not knowing what they were saying, only that they sounded ominous.

"Clara?"

Clara jumped, startled as she snapped out of it. She looked at the Doctor with wide eyes, suddenly feeling very cold.

"Did you hear…"

"Like you said, the Tardis is sick," The Doctor grunted, his tone worried. Concern was etched onto his features, his jaw taut. "Come on."

"Where are we going, Doctor?"

A wave of unsteadiness came over her, almost as if the Tardis was trying to push her away, to prevent her from coming any farther. She clenched her jaw and fought it, determined to keep up with the Doctor.

"The second I realised something was wrong I started doing my research. That, along with a few tips from the Winchesters, gave me an idea of how I could fix this. Or at least, how I could get to the first step to curing the Tardis."

Clara remained quiet. He hadn't answered her question, but she wasn't certain she wanted to know the answer. She had seen other worlds, other species of being from alien civilisations, but she had never encountered anything of the supernatural sort so far. She couldn't shake the feeling that this might be more dangerous than anything she had ever come across before.

"Here."

The Doctor came to a halt just outside a door and hesitated, casting a quick glance at Clara. She avoided his gaze and peered up at the door instead. It looked heavy, iron cast and was emblazoned with hundreds of artistic sigils that were imprinted into the metal. The hallway that they were standing in was dark, lit only by a few candles adorning the damp walls, and they cast intimidating shadows that flickered across the door, giving it a menacing impression. Clara gulped.

"If you want to back out, be my guest," The Doctor looked down at her sternly, but his eyes were pleading and Clara didn't fail to notice the glint of desperation embedded in those bright orbs. "But I could really use your help on this, Clara."

Clara swallowed her fears and doubts and gave a quick decisive nod as the Doctor proceeded to unbolt and open the large door. She willed her heart rate to slow down as she followed the Doctor inside, almost frightened to see what waited for them.

The room was small, circular, and dim. The floor was dirty and the walls were bare, and Clara felt a shiver run down her spine the second she entered. Bypassing everything else, her eyes fell almost immediately on what was situated in the centre of the room.

A man sat still in a chair, his posture slumped, his head bowed almost as if he was sleeping. He was bound in chains that, on closer inspection, were encrusted with the same strange symbols that she had seen on the door. He wore a suit that was torn in places, and Clara's stomach lurched when she saw the dark crimson blood stains, almost appearing black in the bleak room. Though Clara couldn't get a good look at his face, he appeared to be middle aged, with dark brown hair and the shadow of a beard forming. The chair he was sitting on was in the middle of a wide circle made up of intricate designs similar to the symbols on his restraints. He remained still, and for a second Clara thought he really was sleeping or unconscious, until she noticed the slow smirk spreading across his face. His sinister laughter started low and quiet, then rose to an almost hearty chuckle, which seemed out of place, considering his situation.

He rose his head to acknowledge them, and for a split second Clara could've sworn she saw a flash of blood red in his eyes. She blinked quickly with a gasp, forcing herself to believe she had imagined it.

"Well, if it isn't my good friend, the owner of this 'not so fine' establishment," The man crowed sarcastically, maintaining the same sly smirk. His voice was low and smooth, like velvet. "Back for another round, Doc?"

"Shut up," The Doctor replied flatly, closing the door behind them with a firm thud.

"But I thought you loved our little chats," The man raised his eyebrows in mock surprise. "It appears that this relationship is a bit one sided. I'm hurt."

"Clara, this is Crowley," The Doctor's tone was guarded and cold as he addressed her, his eyes never straying from the smug man seated in front of them. "Stay exactly where you are, don't go near him."

"What are you supposed to be?" Crowley's cold gaze dropped to Clara as if noticing her for the first time. "Entertainment?"

"Absolutely not," Clara replied lightly. "We're the ones calling the shots. You're the one tied to a chair. Pay attention."

"Oh, I see," Crowley's glare turned roguish. "Is this the one in charge?"

"Well deduced," Clara quipped back quickly, unable to hold back a small smile at his teasing comment. A quick stern glare from the Doctor had her mashing her lips into a firm line as she dropped her gaze to the floor.

"You're not to approach him, Clara," The Doctor practically growled, glowering at Crowley. "Don't let him get inside your head."

"I'm not getting inside anyone with these fashionable accessories on, Doc," Crowley purred, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he lifted his hands and shook them so that his handcuffs clanked. "No need to worry."

In any other circumstance Clara might have laughed at the man's sharp tongue and acerbic wit, but the Doctor's cold stance was putting her on edge. She decided instead to ask another question that was preying on her mind.

"Doctor, why have you got a man locked up in your Tardis?"

"He's no man," The Doctor growled curtly in reply. Clara lifted a brow and cocked her head to the side, observing.

"Looks like one to me."

Crowley's wicked smirk grew slowly and he winked at her, causing her to suppress a coy smile of her own.

"He's a demon!"

"He's a what?" Clara blinked at Crowley in disbelief, a feeling of dread settling in the pit of her stomach suddenly. She took a step back cautiously and exhaled in a sharp huff. "Sorry I asked."

Crowley shuffled in his seat, causing his restraints to rattle as he forced a sardonic smile onto his face.

"But it's what's on the inside that counts."

"The only thing inside you is a twisted, corrupted soul," The Doctor's lips furled into a snarl in reply. His words seemed to have no effect on Crowley, who merely shrugged, his face frustratingly unreadable.

"Fair enough."

"Doctor, why have you got a demon chained to a chair in a room that looks suspiciously like a dungeon?" Clara was finally getting past the initial shock and beginning to realise the seriousness of the situation. "What the hell is going on?!"

"Hell being the operative word," Crowley smiled widely, as if delighted to hear the word being spoken.

"Quiet, you," Clara ordered before turning her attention back to the Doctor. She now realised that he had really gotten himself into something dangerous this time. She placed her hands on her hips, feeling herself morph effortlessly into teacher mode. "Come on, out with it. What's this plan of yours?"

The Doctor heaved a weary sigh, running a hand through his hair resignedly. The fact that he appeared reluctant to tell her didn't not go amiss by Clara.

"I can explain."

Before either of them could make a move, a large bang interrupted them, causing the floor beneath them to vibrate. Clara let out a yelp as she grabbed the smooth wall to maintain her unsteady balance.

"That didn't sound good, Doc!" Crowley raised his voice to be heard above the resulting aftershocks that resonated throughout the room. "You ought to get someone in to sort that out…" He trailed off and looked down at himself, a peeved expression contorting his face. "Oh wait."

Something clicked inside Clara's mind. Though she wasn't certain what the Doctor's plan was, she was beginning to get a fair idea.

"You couldn't have just called in a mechanic, Doctor?" She yelled as another violent crash shook the room. "You had to call in a demon?!"

"Not the sharpest tool in the box, is he?" Crowley growled bitterly, his eyes burning with cold fury as he glowered at the Doctor who was busy pulling open the door.

"Not good, not good," He muttered, taking a peek at the corridor outside. He stepped through the doorway and looked back at Clara. "Clara, we need to lea-"

Before he could finish, the door slammed shut with an ominous bang.

"No!" Clara yelled, rushing up to it and pummelling her fists against it futilely. "Doctor!"

"Looks like it's just you and me, Darling," Crowley's lilting voice drifted to her ears like velvet and it suddenly hit her that she was in trouble. Big trouble. She turned slowly to face him, unable to prevent herself from trembling. "It's not often I get visitors. I'd offer you a drink, but…"

Crowley shook the shackles on his wrists again with raised eyebrows. Clara backed away as far as she possibly could manage without looking too frightened. She wanted to keep a careful distance away from the dangerous demon, but she also didn't want him to know she was intimidated by him. The Doctor will get to me. It will all be okay.

She avoided the eyes of the demon and looked towards the door again, swallowing back her fear. She took a shaky breath and prepared to raise her voice.

"Doc- Doctor?"

"Gotta love those soundproof walls," Crowley smirked mercilessly and Clara finally looked at him, hoping fervently that those strange symbols would keep him from moving. She figured he would be a lot more dangerous when he wasn't sitting in the middle of that spray painted circle.

"It's going to be okay," She breathed, allowing her eyes to drift shut and calming herself down. "I've got this all under control."

"It's a tad pathetic that you've already resorted to denial, don't you think?" The demon quirked a sly smile, his comment cutting. Clara remained stonily silent, much to Crowley's apparent amusement.

"Don't worry, I don't bite. I leave that to my hellhounds."

So how was that for a first chapter? :D

I'm on my holidays now so hopefully I'll have a lot more time to update this and my other stories!

Speaking of free time I was able to catch up on Supernatural and I just got to the bit where Charlie dies, I freaked. Like honestly, how can that- No. No I refuse to believe it.

But anyway! I'd love it if you left a review, they make me smile :D So go ahead, feel free to leave one letting me know if you liked the story and if I should continue! Thanks Mishamigos laterzzzzzzzzz