To Claim A Kingdom

15

"That was nice of you to help Oswin." Clara commented, watching the Doctor fiddle with the wiring of the TARDIS console. A pair of comedically large goggles covering his face.

"Meh... It's what I do... Dropping in... Helping out-" his words were cut short by a saver violation of his personal space, and a warm feeling against his face.
It wasn't until his bottom lip was bitten before he realized the violation was Clara.

As quick as it happened... It ended. She pulled back, leaving his face frozen in a bewildered expression.

"Damn.. Thought you'd let me in." She cursed casually.

The Doctor flung the goggles from his face, revealing his wild blue eyes and jagged brows.
"W-what... What-" he sputtered, not able to put any words into his surprise.

"Oswin said when you kissed her... You let her inside that funny old head of yours..."

"Clara I..."

"No... No, I have no right to expect that privilege..." She began, back peddling in regret.

He stopped her words with a solemn expression. She was misunderstanding his shock.
How could she think that an echo had more of a right then the original.
Ridiculous.

"Clara." Her name fell heavy in the air.

Her mind began to twinge. Almost stretching under the weight of the word.

"My Clara."

Opened wider.

He let her in.

Images came.
Ones she had seen before throughout all her lives.
12 beautiful men... Running to everywhere.

"Of corse you have the right." He gruffly whispered.
True he couldn't explain with words... He couldn't hold her like the others... But he could do this.

The most this regeneration had ever allowed itself to feel...
And for the first time, she could feel the love, the wonder... The warmth.
The lanky arms of her chin boy...
Now the passion of her mysterious, grey Doctor.

Pictures of her... Followed by turmoil and struggle. The pain of a headache after thinking to hard.

Excitement and interest.

Obsession and fascination.

Edge and longing...
All brewed to form an engulfing storm around her consciousness.

She was crying now.
Tumbling deep into a distant memory they both shared.

The dusty march of his graveyard time stream.
The blackhole of loneliness and uncertainty.
Scattered anywhere and everywhere...
spread to thin.

Then she heard his voice.

"... And you're my impossible girl!"

She trudged on through the memory.

"How many times have you saved me Clara? Just this once... Just for the hell of it... Let me save you!" The sweet coaching voice of the chin boy she'd lost.

Where has he gone?

Just as she thought the memory would end... It warped... Changed into something the Doctor wanted her to see.

As the fog cleared, she could see not the young man in the bow tie ... But the tall, silver magician with the red lined coat.

His demeanor was desperate. Armes reaching out to her encouragingly.
Icey eyes pleading.

"You have to trust me Clara I'm real."

The fog clouded her vision before his final words broke her heart in a deep... Guilty understanding.
The charm voice of her chin boy pleading out of the thin, grey face.

"Please... Just.... Just see me."

---------------
Gone.

All at once.

Resurfaced into reality.
Back aboard the TARDIS.
Out of his head.

The time lord stood several feet away from her, awaiting her response.

Guilt.
That's what she felt.
How could she not see him? All this time.. It was him.

She stared at him... Knowing how a hug was just not for him.
She just stared.

"I can see you." She chuckled through the tears.

Clara had once again saved his life through the actions of another echo...
Just in less obvious ways.
And for an occasion ...also managed to saved herself.