So, the final chapter. I want to thank everyone for reading and also those who reviewed, favourited and followed it. It was a blast to write :D


Chapter 15: Home

"Clara?"

She woke, shifting in her seat before turning to see Gruber.

"How are you holding up?" He went to stand next to her.

"I'm fine," she lied. She looked at him. He had a few bruises and he seemed very tired. "You ok?"

He smiled. "I'll live." He looked down at his feet before he spoke again. "Listen, I want to apologise for what I did."

"It's ok, it wasn't your fault."

"Still, I'm sorry for what happened." He took a deep breath. "I saw everything. It was like, being in a dream you don't have control over."

"More like a nightmare," she added and he smiled apologetically. Both were quiet before Gruber spoke, voice soft.

"That first day, my wife was taken. I searched for her, waited at our house. But she never came."

Clara waited patiently for him to continue, noting the pain in his tone.

"After a while I, eventually gave up. I lost all hope of seeing her again." He swallowed. "It still haunts me to this day. I keep thinking that if I had searched a little longer, then maybe I could've found her."

He looked at the peaceful figure before them. "He didn't give up on you. He might have lost hope, but he never gave up." He looked back at her. "You don't strike me as someone to give up, but don't lose hope either. He's a fighter, he just needs time. He'll wake up sooner than you think." He gave her a smile then turned and left as quietly as he came.

The beeping of the monitors and gentle rush of air moving through the tube to his lungs filled her ears. She sighed. He actually looked worse now than he did yesterday.

"Don't go, please don't go," she whispered. His breathing stopped. "No," she whimpered. Her hand was on his cheek, her thumb tracing circles on his pallor skin.

"Clara!" Aera shouted as she ran towards them. "I think we found the…" she stopped in her tracks when she saw the Doctor. Then she was next to them, hands a blur as she worked.

If Aera hadn't shown up and if they hadn't got him to the TARDIS med bay when they did, he would have died. Aera had worked magic and saved him. Apparently she and the Doctor have had long conversations on the medical equipment in there over the years, else she wouldn't have known how to operate the advanced machines. But thankfully she did.

Unfortunately, as Aera had told her, the serum was working against them. It enhanced his strength like it was supposed to, but where with others it improved healing, it actually hurt him more.

His physiology was different; the serum wasn't made for Time Lords. It was poison for him. The extra doses worsened it even more. It slowly attacked his cells, killing him from the inside.

She gently took his hand. The serum targeted every bruise and cut, but instead of healing it, it damaged it further. The right side of his face, especially his cheekbone and the corner of his eye, looked almost burnt. She was glad the stab wound was covered in gauze, but even then the area around it was an angry red and looked painful.

She watched his bare chest rise and fall rhythmically. Gruber was right. He just needed time, he'll pull through.


He became aware of air being forced down his lungs. He tried fighting it, struggling against it. There was a hand on his shoulder and he felt the tube move in his throat. Wasn't really pleasant. Then the tube was gone and he gasped, in control of his own breathing once more. Now if he could just get his eyes to open. He felt a mask being placed over his nose and mouth, silently thankful that it calmed his erratic breathing. He moaned softly as he slipped away into darkness.

It felt like just a few seconds had passed before he come to again. He couldn't feel his right arm. Did he still have a right arm? He hoped he did. He always liked his right arm more than the left one. He tried moving it. Nothing. Maybe if he took a look to see what's wrong…

The lights were dim, but he still blinked against it. The room was… different. This wasn't the medical bay in the facility. He frowned. This is the TARDIS med bay. Something stirred next to him. He looked down.

"Clara?" He croaked and swallowed painfully. No wonder he couldn't feel his arm. She was cradling it, using it as a pillow. He smiled. If he wasn't worried about his arm he would have let her sleep.

"Clara?" He tried again. This time she jerked awake, staring at him with big eyes.

"Doctor," she breathed. "You're awake." She jumped up and hugged him awkwardly, him being in bed making it difficult. He hissed as she brushed against a bruise and immediately let go. "Sorry, I just…" she trailed off. "How are you feeling?"

He shifted, wincing at the pain in his abdomen. "A bit sore, but it's fine." He carefully prodded the gauze covering over his abdomen. "How long was I out?"

"About three days."

"Three days? The Hollow Men, Kyrell…" He spoke urgently.

She placed her hand on his shoulder, keeping him still. "Everything is ok. It's all over now," she reassured him. "They stopped attacking just after he died. Aera made some kind of, anti-serum to get them back to normal."

At that moment Aera walked in, smiling when she saw him.

"Ah, Doctor. Good to see you awake." She took off the gauze on his abdomen and looked him over. "I think the medication finally got rid of that serum. The wound should be fully healed in a couple of days, same goes for that bruising on your face."

"All thanks to you," he sat up straighter.

"Just doing my job. And before you ask, yes, you can get cleaned up now." She looked at Clara. "Can I ask you to just wrap a bandage around that wound of his when he's done?"

Clara nodded. "No problem." She looked back at the Doctor.

"I'm probably going to need some help with my shirt as well," he said sheepishly.


She folded the collar of his crisp white shirt down, resting her hands on his shoulders. She cupped his jaw, feeling the smooth skin underneath her hand.

"You know, the beard hid too much of your handsome face." He looked like himself again, like before all this started. She had missed his velvet coat. He looked like the Doctor again.

His smile was shy. She leaned in and he bent down, arms circling her waist and pulling her close as their lips met. He relished the feel of her fingers at the back of his neck, lightly scratching his scalp. Unlike last there were no sirens to interrupt them.

Eventually they ended the kiss, resting their foreheads against each other. She smiled as he gave a contented sigh, grateful to be in his embrace after everything that's happened to them.

"Remember, Doctor. No strenuous activities until you're fully healed," Aera smirked, watching them with a raised eyebrow as they left the bathroom hand in hand.

He blushed slightly, mouth opening to respond but Clara was faster.

"Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on him," she smiled coyly at him and his blush deepened.

Aera regarded the pair in front of her for a moment, happy that they found their way to each other. "I don't suppose you can drop me off at the facility, can you?"


"Taylor's going to be mad that you didn't say goodbye. She's going to miss you."

The Doctor handed her a small, brown parcel. "Give her this from me, will you?"

"What is it?" She turned the package over in her hands.

"Just a little something to keep her busy." He grunted as Aera suddenly hugged him, patting her back with one hand.

"Take care of yourself, Doctor" She let go and went to say goodbye to Clara.

Gruber walked over to the Doctor. "Thanks for your help, Doctor." They shook hands. "Now if you would excuse me, I have to go look for someone. It's possible that my wife is still out there," he smiled.

The Doctor nodded. "Good luck."

"Likewise." Gruber glanced at the TARDIS standing behind the Doctor. "Bigger on the inside," he mumbled and shook his head before heading off.

"I still think he changed, but for the better," Clara said.

"Well, I had to say something to get you two together," Aera laughed. "Take care of him."

"Of course."

After they hugged Clara followed the Doctor into the TARDIS, closing the door behind her. She picked her bag up from the floor and neatly put the sketches the Doctor had made of her inside. No way was she leaving them behind, so while he was saying goodbye to Aera she had quickly gone to collect them.

"Right," he exclaimed as he circled the console, working the controls before his hand came to rest on the dematerialisation lever. "Let's get you home."

Smiling, she walked over to him and leaned on the console, fingers brushing over the buttons. She gazed around before her eyes settled on the man next to her. Oh, how she missed that brilliant smile of his and the sparkle in his eyes. Both ablaze with adventure and excitement.

"I am home," she said and he pulled the lever.

The End


I'm going to take a break from writing now. Hopefully I'll be back by the end of November. I still have one or two requests from my first fic that I'm busy with, so feel free to add to that list.

Thanks again for reading,

ThatUserOverThere out