Thirteenth X Clara - Alternative

Chapter 6: Evaluations

As a man... woman of science, Clara knew the Doctor dealt in facts and statistics. She focuses on what she knows and what she can find out. There's always a reason for something that she can find out. So for her to use that word, it stirred an intrigue in Clara.

"Wait. What do you mean by miracle?"

The Doctor swung around towards Clara, her hands still on the console, her face showing a mix of emotions Clara couldn't help but try to pick out. There was shock, but there also seemed to be a hint of worry, but it didn't seem to last long. But most of all, there was happiness and hope, which excited the Impossible Girl.

The Doctor couldn't believe this was happening. This made no sense. It was incredibly unlikely, and by all the laws of time and science that she knew, it shouldn't be happening. For all intents and purposes, it was impossible. But then again, the impossible seemed to happen when she was around.

"Ever since we separated, there has been a calculation/scan running through the Tardis console. I think I may have subconsciously created it when I came back after we left each other. It's nothing big, just a tracker. A tracker that's kept me informed of the tear in the universe that we created, letting me know its status."

The Doctor stepped off the Tardis console, with wide eyes and a teasing smile.

"But I set that alarm to go off whenever that tear was closed. Now the Tardis hasn't been at its best since that moment, but in theory, that alarm cannot go off if you're still here."

Clara's face drew back and her eyes became like saucers, the realization not taking long to settle in.

"But..... but... how? How is that actually... possible?"

"Now that... I have a theory on."

The Doctor went below the Tardis console and took out a piece of string and a pair of scissors. She tied one end to her arm and the other to Clara's arm.

"Now I'm Gallifrey and you're...you I guess....just go with it. Now, if you take a few steps back away from me... That's good, stop there!" The Doctor told her, making sure she didn't go too far. Didn't want to spoil the experiment already.

"This is where we were. You pulling one way and Gallifrey staying central and the string is the universe, being tugged at in both directions, causing an unseen tear. Now, since.... Gallifrey was destroyed, its end was cut off."

The Doctor then used the scissors and cut the string in two.

"Now that that line has been severed, the universe isn't being pulled in both directions anymore and the tear has been closed up."

"So wait, hang on. You're saying that because Gallifrey has been destroyed... the universe isn't being damaged anymore. But then that means...." Clara said, her smile widening as she realized what was coming.

The Doctor moved towards her, placing her hands on Clara's shoulders. She could hardly contain her smile at what she planned to say next.

"It means... you're free. You don't have to worry about going back there. Believe me, I know exactly how an impending death can feel. Like you have no control of your destiny, no control of how your life will go. But now you have the chance to make life what you want it to be, with no worries over how it's going to end."

Clara's face continually shifted between shock and confusion, before eventually settling on the widest grin. She tried her best to quickly untie the string, and she ran towards the Doctor and threw her arms around her. Hope had now turned into reality.

The Doctor took in the warm feel of Clara, missing this greatly. There was something intensely comforting about this, like this was home for her. An indescribable feeling, yet one she could identify in mere milliseconds.