Chapter Fourteen: Idiot's Lantern

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THE DOCTOR KNEW CLAUDIA WAS MEANT TO TRAVEL WITH HIM WHEN HE FIRST LAID EYES ON HER OVER CHRISTMAS.

There was no explanation as to how he knew, only a feeling and likeliness one found in a reflection of themselves. She was dark and broody and vengeful, and her eyes brazed with fire — but, stars, she was unlike anyone he'd ever seen before.

And for a time traveler, that was practically unheard of.

The Doctor prided himself on picking companions with extraordinary qualities; above average intelligence, bravery, loyalty, camaraderie.

Claudia, with her wild curls and open expressions and hard eyes, encompassed each of those qualities and more.

She was brazen and fearless and strong. She had a fight like no one he'd ever known — including most of his brothers and sisters on the battlefield during the Time War — and she held her own against everything the universe threw at her.

She'd suffered so much loss and endured trauma in a manner few would ever understand.

But he understood. He always understood, when a companion struggled. When they lost someone or themselves.

And, yet, somehow, with Claudia Winchester, it felt different. Like the first time.

Knowing Claudia felt like staring into a solar system, but he couldn't control how much time passed. He was grateful when a meteor struck and she opened up to him, and he observed the stars exploding in her eyes as her brain moved.

She was as bright and fierce as a raging star, but she captivated his attention just the same. He couldn't look away from her, he never wanted to, she died and recreated herself so many times before his eyes in the short time they'd known each other that he never wanted to stop knowing her.

The Doctor had made many promises in his life, and very few were followed through upon. It was often far from intentional, but more commonly consequential in his prerogative of one versus many.

Versus himself.

And yet, promising Claudia he'd never intentionally let her go was, perhaps, the most important one he'd ever made. Deep in his hearts, he intended to keep the rope between them, tied together by their words, and ensure it never snapped.

He knew one day, of course, she may leave him. All humans do. It often felt like a gift, to traverse the universe and have all of time and space at his fingertips. But there was a price to pay in that too, a curse, wherein he was forced to spend his eternity alone, passing through people's lives like chapters in a book.

And he knew Claudia was the most interesting chapter he'd delved into thus far. She was the great reward of an otherwise exhausting adventure. He hoped, with all his hearts, that she may not leave him for as long as she lived, no matter how selfish that made him.

And it wasn't to say he was in love with her.

That was, absolutely not the situation of their relationship. He adored her, admired her, respected her, and wanted to spend every second of his time unraveling her mysteries and healing her scars — but he was not in love with her.

He couldn't remember the last time he'd been in love. His wife, probably. He loved her. Jovanka was quiet and studious and kind to him. And there was a piece of him that would always belong to her, always be lost forever, cradled in her hands in death.

And if the Doctor were in love with anyone, the closest to romantic he'd felt in decades was Rose.

Oh, Rose.

If there were ever two direct opposites in people, it would be Rose and Claudia.

Colorful, excitable, vivacious, free-spirited, clever, sweet, dependable, beautiful Rose. He absolutely adored her. He had in his last regeneration, too. And while he couldn't remember everything — like a fog with the same memories but the feelings were murky in his chest — he could remember how he felt about Rose.

He was fairly sure he always would.

His hearts skipped when she smiled up at him and his entire existence softened around her. She was radiant and expressive and made him feel incredibly proud to be near her.

And so naturally, Rose was the person his hearts belonged too. Logically, he was in love, or, no, could be, in love with Rose. Possibly. Probably. One day.

Things were far too complicated to put a label on now. She knew how he felt and he knew how she felt.

And Claudia was...

Claudia was...

She was more than a companion to him. But more than a friend, too. He'd never...trusted someone like he did Claudia. And so easily, too. She held her own, defended his friends, and diffused tensions in situations as indubitably as he did.

To him, Claudia was...

Perhaps there wasn't a word for it. Or, he would need to find a word to properly convey the affections he had for her.

It was easy to love Rose, to give his hearts to her. It was comfortable and somehow familiar and natural. Effortless.

And he didn't — he was not placing his hearts with Claudia. She wouldn't take them anyway. He wasn't offering them to, he wasn't planning on offering them to her.

Claudia felt like...

"Start from the beginning, tell me everything you know."

The Doctor blinked, thoughts drifting from him as he refocused into the room around him. Two policeman stood before him, one leaning over the desk separating them, a stern look on his face.

The other was the man who touched Claudia. The Doctor eyed him for a moment, a strange feeling settling in his chest. He locked that away for observation later.

Rose looked to him for help from his left side and he didn't look at her, but he'd settle everything. He always would.

"Well, for starters," he took a breath, eyeing Rose finally. There was a worried look on her face that he loathed seeing, and he decided he'd do anything to keep it from settling there. "I know you can't wrap your hand 'round your elbow and make your fingers meet."

His eyes didn't leave hers and a smile replaced the worry. He could have laughed in relief seeing the small dimples protrude out. Rassilon, she was pretty.

"Don't get clever with me," the policeman snarked, pointing at him. The Doctor's eyes snapped to him.

His eyes roamed over the man's appearance; red suspenders, rolled-up white button down, groomed hair, stern expression, collared shirt — oh, look at that, his mother makes his shirts, that is so incredibly human — with his name inscribed.

He was not nearly as pretty as Rose.

"You were there today at Florizel Street, and now breaking into an establishment," the policeman explained. "Oh, you're connected with this. Make no mistake."

The Doctor had all respect for men like him: doing their best to figure situations out and keep people from trouble.

But, at the same time, he really couldn't stand them. He'd never been a rule follower and even before the Academy, he'd take a small beating in place of abiding the strict enforcements placed on him.

And now, roaming the universe as he pleases without repercussions, he didn't exactly enjoy the company of small-minded individuals who blamed a stranger at first glance.

At least attempt to connect the dots.

"Well, the thing is," the Doctor began, "Detective Inspector Bishop—"

"How do you know my name?"

"It's written inside your collar," the Doctor replied slowly, and he heard Rose muffle a laugh.

Bishop straightened, adjusting his tie, frowning at the Doctor's observational skills.

"Bless your mom," the Doctor smiled quickly. "But I can't help thinking, Detective Inspector," (he really enjoyed saying that, it felt like something he'd say in a Sherlock Holmes novel — oh, he wondered if Claudia enjoyed Sherlock. Surely she did? Rose wasn't much of a reader, but he knew Claudia liked to read, perhaps they could review their favorites together or he could introduce her to them. Even better, he could take her to the real Sherlock!) "You're not exactly doing much detective-inspecting, are you?"

Rose elbowed him lightly and the Doctor frowned. He wasn't trying to be rude, he was just stating the fact. The sooner they acknowledged it, the sooner he could find the real culprit.

"I'm doing everything in my power," Bishop straightened.

"All you're doing is grabbing those faceless people and hiding them as fast as you can."

"Yeah, it's not exactly great policework if you hide the problem and ignore the investigation," Rose pitched in.

The Doctor nodded in agreement.

"Don't tell me," he glanced between the men. "Orders from above. Coronation Day, the eyes of the world are on London Town, so any sort of problem just gets swept out of sight."

It was the same in any and all forms of bureaucratic and the divisions underneath them.

"But," Bishop sighed, sitting down exasperatedly. "With all the crowds expected, we haven't got the manpower. Even if we did, this is...beyond anything we've ever seen. I just don't know anymore."

Now that wasn't a surprise. At all. If the Doctor had a pandak for each time someone told him they "had never seen anything like this before" he could probably fill the TARDIS up.

Theoretically. It was physically impossible to fill the TARDIS completely due to her transcendentalism, but it was more of an idea, really. Not even an idea. A figure of speech.

Bishop leaned forward, a downtrodden expression on his face. "Twenty years on the force, I don't even know where to start."

The Doctor leaned forward, crossing his arms as he listened. Rose straightened in her chair, a sympathetic expression on her face.

"We haven't the faintest idea," Bishop continued. "What's going on."

"Well," the Doctor fought back a smile. "That could change."

This was his favorite part. He wished Claudia were here to see him be all smart. Where'd she gone again? She had a lead? Of course she did. She was so incredibly intelligent. She underestimated herself supremely and that often bothered him. He should reminder her how much he enjoyed hearing her thoughts — more often than not, she was right or deduced things nearly as quickly as he could.

"How?" Bishop asked, bordering desperate.

The Doctor stood up, leaning his hands against the desk. He fought back the urge to grin over at Rose. He loved this part.

"Start from the beginning. Tell me everything you know."

Bishop sighed, looking between Rose and the Doctor before nodding. He stood, walking around the desk to a map near the door. On it, were thumbtacks placed where victims were grabbed or found.

"About a month ago," Bishop explained as Rose stood next to the Doctor, looking over the map furiously. "Persons left sans visage. Heads just...blank."

"Is there any sort of pattern?" The Doctor asked, placing his glasses over his face. He wondered if Claudia needed glasses. Hadn't she mentioned that before?

"It's spreading out of North London," Bishop replied as the Doctor examined files. Rose stood next to Bishop. "All over the city. Men, women, kids, grannies."

He wished Claudia were here to give him another viewpoint. They often filled in each other's blind spots and helped find a solution faster together.

He looked over the files, frowning. Dates...names...same symptoms...

Nothing helpful.

"Only real lead," Bishop continued. "Is there's been quite a large number in—"

"—Florizel street," the Doctor finished, reading the same note on the file. That was an interesting lead.

Why all there? What was so special about that street in specific? He tried to recall anything out of place or extraordinary and remembered Claudia describing things as particularly ordinary.

Or was it the opposite?

If only she were here to repeat herself. His brain was working too hard — where was she, anyway? — he turned to Rose, eyebrows furrowed thoughtfully, opening his mouth to ask if she'd noticed anything, but was cut off when the door opened.

"Found another one, sir," another policeman spoke up.

"Oh, good man, Crabtree." Bishop nodded, letting them walk the victim in. "Here we are, Doctor."

The Doctor's eyes widened a fraction — that dress was oddly familiar — but when the blanket was lifted over the victim's head, his hearts fell into his stomach.

He could've sworn they stopped.

There was an ache, then, a longing he hadn't felt in...

It was Claudia. The victim was Claudia.

Faceless and without thought and existing completely as molecules and tendons and pieces of skin placed together — lacking everything that made her so unintentionally pulchritudinous.

His breathing sped up and he faintly heard Rose's gasp, but he ignored it, walking in a trance towards Claudia's body.

His pain was soon replaced by anger. An anger he hadn't felt since before he encountered Rose. He wanted to ruin the person who did this to her. He didn't want to offer a shred of mercy to them.

They touched Claudia.

A woman so well-versed in trauma and pain and brutality that it had become second nature to expect the worse. Her skin was littered in scars — she often tried to hide them, but he admired them, as a Time Lord, his scars would disappear in the next regeneration, but her marks would mar her skin forever and he wanted to spend forever hearing about them — and small tattoos he so eagerly wanted to admire in a different lighting.

When she could tell him about them.

His jaw clenched, the rage deepening. He couldn't even hear her voice. Oh, her voice. Full of emotion, even if she hid it behind a cool mask — he could see straight through it, just as she so effortlessly saw through his — and strength and power and wisdom.

He loved her voice. It was warm and raw and vulgar — but she always filled it with peculiar stories and ramblings and findings and heartache and heartbreak and sheer, unaltered power — and he'd never wanted to hear her sarcastic, bossy, altruistic point of view more than he did in this moment.

He reached a hand up, tentatively, he didn't like touching her without permission. She'd been so bruised before, so hurt by others, that he noticed the subtle wince as others — save for Rose, it seemed she didn't have a problem with women, he'd have to keep that in mind for future regenerations (if she made it past — no, of course, of course she would make it out of this) — touched her, himself included.

The Doctor gently placed a hand where her cheekbone would be, eyes glistening.

Oh, Claudia.

Thunderous, vengeful, spiteful, bitter, selfless, loyal, extraordinary Claudia.

His thumb traced her featureless cheek gently, tenderly. He wanted her to roll her eyes and smack his hand away, telling him to back up before she broke it, but there was nothing there.

A shell of the person who'd walked into his life — or, rather; unintentionally became an integral part of it — and made him want to follow her through time and space, not the other way around. If only to see her wondrous expression on a new planet or her admiration of other species.

Rassilon, please, please let him fix this. Fix her. He didn't have enough time with her. He wanted to show her the purple beaches and The Library and —

"You know her?" Bishop's voice brought the Doctor back to the moment. His anger returned again, nearly curling his hand into a fist against her cheek. He fought against that.

He'd never want to even resemble harming her. Not when all he wanted to do was make her smile.

"Know her?" The Doctor swallowed, feeling Rose take his other hand. He glanced at her, seeking support, but his hearts shattered at the realization that he didn't want her support at all. "She's...it's Claudia," he mumbled. "She's..."

"She's our friend," Rose supplied helpfully. His hand squeezed in hers and the anger swelled at her words.

More than that, he wanted to argue. More than a companion, more than anyone he'd ever —

She was more to him than that. He really needed to find a suitable word for his relationship with her because he was falling short.

For the first time in his life, he fell short on words. Words on how to accurately depict the emotional hold she held on him. The innate need to ensure her safety, the incomparable way he'd choose her over every planet in every solar system — just so she'd never feel the same pain he felt.

He wanted to shelter her and hold her and keep her from all of this. His hand was on her cheek again and he leaned forward, placing a soft kiss to where her forehead would be.

He just wanted to keep her from ever feeling like the world was against her. Because it wasn't, not anymore. He would keep her from that.

Rose's hand squeezed his and he fought the strange urge to pull it from her. She was only trying to help. She cared about Claudia, too. They were close friends and he knew Claudia loved Rose. Loved him.

As...friends? It wasn't familial. It wasn't friendly. It wasn't romantic. She felt like...

"They found her in the street..."

The rage didn't leave this time. His hand trembled against Rose's and he pulled it from her grasp, taking a step back from Claudia so as not to accidentally harm her.

They did what to her?

To Claudia, who would lay her life down for every person on the planet without a second thought. To Claudia, who would rather die than see anyone else in harm. To Claudia, who followed a lead to save people again because that's all she seemed to do.

"They did what?" He asked through gritted teeth. He dared them to repeat themselves.

Dared them to defend the person who'd done this to her.

He took a shaky breath. He wanted to tear the people responsible apart. He wanted to ensure they suffered extensively and horrifically for what they did to her.

"I'm sorry?" Bishop asked, snapping his attention like a rubber band.

"They left her where?" The Doctor asked in a low voice. He was calm. Too calm. Rose glanced at him in worry.

She recognized the voice.

He did too.

He hadn't shown her the darkest of him yet. He liked keeping her in the light, he liked ensuring she thought of him brightly and kindly.

She'd seen bits of it with his previous regeneration, war-torn and snide. But not this face. She found comfort in his smile and easily laid plans.

Oh, he didn't want to maim that perception of him. Truly, he didn't.

"In the street," Bishop supplied monotonously. As though this wasn't Claudia. As though she wasn't the most important human he'd ever known. As if she wasn't...

"In the street," he took a shaky breath. "They left her in the street. They took her face. They took — and just chucked her out and left her in the street."

His enemies often nicknamed him 'The Oncoming Storm.' The Doctor played around with that title. He didn't enjoy being perceived as a deadly rage, a violent whir of emotions that could destroy cities and flatten landscapes.

But in this moment...

In this moment, with her face gone, and her essence torn away from him, the Doctor relished in the name.

Let them fear the storm. Let them pray it stops raining when it reaches them. Because his tornadoes will level homes and people. His floods will rival Genesis 6-9. His rage would tear the hearts from those that harmed her, would leave no reason or mercy or pleadings.

He wanted everyone to feel this rage. To feel this...frightened. The Doctor would tear the entire world apart if he couldn't save Claudia Winchester, and when the thought fluttered to the forefront of his mind, he thought it would bring about fear or uncertainty.

It only encouraged his wrath, spurred it on with encouraging niceties.

And he'd let it consume him if he lost her.

"Do you know what this means?" He asked in the same deadly calm voice. Rose looked up at him in confusion. "It makes things very simple. Very, very simple."

"How so?" Bishop asked curiously.

The Doctor looked into where Claudia's eyes would be. Should be. Her big, haunted, passionate, beautiful eyes. She would tell him to calm down. She would refrain him. She would stop him from going too far.

But she wasn't here.

And he would cross each and every line if it meant she would return to him.

"Because now," his voice raised and Rose jumped at the change of tone. Guilt surfaced but was quickly replaced by fury. "Detective Inspector Bishop, there is no power on this Earth that will stop me!" He glanced to Rose, eyes softening a fraction. "Come on, Rose."

—

First stop: the Connolly house. The same house that caused everything, started everything.

The last place he'd seen her.

"Tommy," the Doctor began, a murderous expression in his eyes, but his face masquerading as a cold indifference. "Talk to me."

Rose stood diligently at his side. Ever the eager and dependable companion. He adored Rose.

But he couldn't think about her now, not with this poisonous fog threatening to consume everything in its path should he act on his thoughts.

"I need to know exactly what happened inside your house."

As Tommy exited the house, closing the door behind him, Mr. Connolly opened it roughly and pushed against Tommy.

The Doctor's hand clenched into a fist. He warned this man earlier. He could so easily...

"What the blazes do you think you're doing?" Mr. Connolly growled to Tommy.

"I wanna help, Dad!" Tommy protested.

The Doctor wondered if Claudia and her brothers used that phrase often growing up. He'd seen her burgeoning resentment for Mr. Connolly, straight from the jump.

He'd seen it for the same reasons she had.

That knowledge made him despise Mr. Connolly even more, now.

"Mr. Connolly," Rose spoke up first, easing the tension delicately. She was so delicate.

"Shut your face, you," Mr. Connolly growled to her, scowling at the Doctor.

Something snapped in the Doctor at the man's anger towards Rose. How dare he. How dare he hurt his wife and child. How dare he belittle Claudia. How dare he look at Rose in that regard, use that tone on her.

His hand twitched again.

"Whoever you are," he directed to the Doctor. "We can handle ourselves!"

Oh...oh, he so desperately wanted to let Mr. Connolly "handle" it. Handle the problem. Handle the one who took away his Claudia. The thought made him want to grin. He would be handled. That would be such sweet, sweet revenge.

"Listen, you little twerp," Mr. Connolly turned to Tommy. The Doctor's hand twitched again. "You're hardly out of the blooming cradle, so I don't expect you to understand, but I've got a position to maintain. People 'round here respect me. It matters what people think."

Realization spread through Tommy's eyes. The same realization the Doctor had felt when Claudia muttered the words back in the Connolly living room.

So quick. So clever.

"Is that why you did it, Dad?" Tommy asked.

Mr. Connolly leaned back a fraction. "What do you mean? Did what?"

Coward, coward, coward. The Doctor wanted to shout. He couldn't even own up to it. His hand twitched again.

"Oh my god," Rose breathed out, catching on.

"You ratted on Gran," Tommy challenged. "How else would the police know where to look?"

"How could you do that?" Rose asked accusingly.

"Unless some coward told them," Tommy finished, glaring at his father.

"How dare you?" Mr. Connolly learned towards Tommy. The Doctor moved a step, but Rose stopped him. He wished she hadn't. He wished he could ensure Mr. Connolly would never be born.

"You think I fought in a war just so a mouthy little scum like you could call me a coward!"

"You don't get it, do you?" Tommy asked. "You fought against fascism, remember?"

A small sense of pride swirled with the unbridled anger in the Doctor's chest. He liked Tommy. Claudia liked Tommy too.

"People telling you how to live," Tommy continued. "Who you could be friends with. Who you could fall in love with. Who could live and who had to die. Don't you get it? You were fighting so that little twerps like me could do what we want, say what we want. Now, you've become just like them. You've been informing on everyone, haven't you? Even Gran." Tommy scoffed. "All to protect your precious reputation!"

Rita turned the corner to the door, hurt and surprise on her face. The Doctor straightened. Unfortunate, but necessary. Rita deserved better.

"Eddie," she gasped. "Is that true?"

"I did it for us, Rita," Mr. Connolly spluttered. The Doctor's hand twitched. "She was filthy! A filthy, disgusting thing!" He shouted, stomping his foot like a child.

The rage swelled again and the Doctor's hand grasped Rose's tightly. He needed to stop himself. Mr. Connolly's words indirectly called Claudia the same and all he wanted to do was pummel the man into the ground, pride and title be damned.

He refrained, clutching Rose tightly. She was his lifeline, his saving grace, his peace. He needed Rose so desperately to keep him from teetering off the edge.

"She's my mother," Rita whispered. "All the others you informed on, all the people in our street, our friends."

"I had to!" Mr. Connolly looked around for help, but none came. "It was the right thing to do."

Good, the Doctor thought. Feel so incredibly alone in this moment, you conniving, spineless, arrogant...

"The right thing for us or for you, Eddie?" Rita turned to Tommy, offering a soft smile. She was soft around the edges, sweet and gentle. The Doctor appreciated her gentle demeanor and nature, so unlike many he came across. "You go, Tommy. Go with the Doctor and do some good. Get away from this houses It's poison. We've had a ruddy monster under our roof all night, but it weren't my mother!"

She slammed the door on Mr. Connolly and the Doctor fought a smirk. Rose didn't. A smug smile found her face and the Doctor eyed her, fondness spreading across his chest like vines, pulling him into her orbit and keeping him there.

"Tommy," the Doctor reached his free hand out to the younger man. Mr. Connolly turned helplessly as the four walked away from him.

The smug smirk climbed in the Doctor's face for a moment and he let it rest there before Claudia's faceless demeanor hardened him again.

—

"Tommy, tell me about that night," the Doctor prodded as they walked through the streets. "The night everything changed."

"She was just watching the telly," Tommy shrugged, voice cracking.

Rose and the Doctor exchanged a look.

The Doctor felt like a complete idiot. Of course it was the televisions. And Magpie.

Claudia called it from the beginning, Rose too, they knew, they just didn't know until they knew and by then, Claudia had already been grabbed.

Oh, brilliant, intuitive Claudia. Following a lead. He felt three steps behind her, like he was chasing breadcrumbs on a trail she left him.

It didn't bother him though, despite normally wanting to be the one leaving them. He had the sinking suspicion that he'd follow her anywhere.

"Rose, you said it," the Doctor sighed, looking around the rooftops. "You and Claudia, straightaway. Of course you did. All these aerials in one little street. How come?"

"Bloke up the road, Mr. Magpie," Tommy explained. "He's selling them cheap."

The Doctor growled lowly in frustration. Of course, of course, of course, of course.

The Doctor broke into a run, sparing none of them a glance as Rose rushed after him, Tommy and Bishop following close behind.

Don't worry, Claudia, he thought. I promise I'll bring you home.

—

He punched a hole in the door, breaking the glass to open the window. It made his knuckles bleed and a rush of adrenaline shoot through his nervous system, oh, but it felt good.

So good to relinquish that frustration and he wished he had more glass to break so he could punch more things and break them apart so they could understand exactly what it felt like to no longer have Claudia.

"Shop!" The Doctor shouted, ignoring Bishop's protests as he entered, slamming his hand down on the bell. "If you're here, come out and talk to me, Magpie!"

"Maybe he's out," Tommy suggested.

"Yeah, it is Coronation Day," Rose added.

The Doctor ignored them, turning around the desk and opening drawers. Searching...searching...bingo.

"Oh, hello," he picked up the device. "That's not right. That's very much not right." He held it up, licking it, and his hearts sank when Claudia didn't wrinkle her nose in distaste and comment on it. "Tastes like iron. Bakelite. Designed with human hands, but the design..." he scanned his sonic over it. "Oh, beautiful work. That is so simple."

"That's incredible," Bishop breathed. "It's like a television, but portable."

Rose smiled at him. She loved when people were more confused than she was. The Doctor found that incredibly cute.

"If you'll believe it," she thumped a hand against his back. "It's a bit far-fetched."

"A portable television!" Bishop exclaimed in shock.

"It's not the only power source in this room," the Doctor raised his sonic, following the readings suggesting at something else. He turned it higher, flicking the switch. A beep, static, and then...

"Claudia," he mumbled, rushing to the bottom of the line of televisions, spotting her face through the dozens lining the screens.

She was saying nothing, just looking around with a small frown. She didn't appear scared or angry or confused. Just a little bemused and displaced.

The Doctor smiled, anger dissolving slightly. He placed a hand on the television screen, next to her face. He could've sworn the smirk that grew was because she could see him. Could she? He didn't know. But he hoped so.

"I'll bring you home," he promised softly. "I'll always bring you home, Claudia."

His attention was taken, moment of surrender broken, when Magpie burst through the beads separating the rooms.

"What do you think you're doing?"

The Doctor stood vehemently, striding to Magpie and standing over him. He used his height to his advantage. His roaring voice. He would use his fists if it were just the two of them — if Rose weren't in the room.

"I want my friend restored and I think that's beyond a little backstreet electrician, so tell me, who's really in charge here?" He snarled.

"Yoo-hoo!" A voice sounded from one of the televisions. "I think that must be me."

Red, hot, blazing fury filled him and he stepped away from any humans in the room. He was sure if he touched them, they'd melt into nothingness from the sheer force of his rage.

"Oh, this one's smart as paint," the woman remarked. "Almost as clever as the last one I spoke with." She smiled. "She was delicious, I was full for a few minutes — that's a record!"

The Doctor made long strides towards the woman and glowered at the screen. Magpie and Bishop exchanged words, but the Doctor couldn't hear them over his own heartbeats.

"Jolly nice to meet you," the woman remarked.

"Oh my god, it's her," Bishop remarked. "The woman off the telly!"

"No," the Doctor said quietly. "Just using her image."

"What?" Tommy asked. "What are you?"

"I'm the Wire," the alien stated proudly. "And I will gobble you up, pretty boy. Every last morsel! And, when I have feasted again, I shall regain the corporal body, which my fellow kind denied me."

The Doctor was so tired of selfish aliens. So incredibly tired of those who consumed or tortured or wounded or slaughtered innocents for their own pathetic gain.

"That's horrific!" Rose exclaimed.

He was glad he wasn't the only one who felt that way.

"Good lord," Bishop remarked. "Colored television!"

No wonder they didn't get any closer to the truth. Oh, humans.

"So your own people tried to stop you?"

"They executed me," the Wire nodded. "But I escaped in this form and fled across the stars."

"And now you're trapped in the television."

"Not for much longer."

"Doctor, is this what got my gran?" Tommy asked.

"And Claudia," Rose added. "We'll stop her, Tommy, I promise."

"That's right," the Doctor nodded. "It feeds off the electrical activity of the brain, but it gorges itself like a great, over-fed pig. Taking people's faces, their essence as it stuffs itself."

"And you let her do it, Magpie," Bishop pointed out.

"I had to," Magpie exclaimed. "She allowed me my face."

"And in turn, you both took Claudia's." The Doctor's eyes darkened.

"She's promised to release me after the time of manifestation!" Magpie proclaimed.

"Doctor, what's that mean?" Rose and Tommy asked together.

"The appointed time," the Wire grinned. "My crowning glory."

"For the first time in history, millions gathered around a television set," the Doctor explained with gritted teeth. "But you're not strong enough yet, are you? You can't do it all from here. That's why you need this. You need something more powerful! This will turn a big transmitter into a big receiver."

"What a clever thing you are!" The Wire grinned nastily. "But why fret about it? Why not just relax? Kick off your shoes and enjoy the Coronation. Believe me, you'll be glued to the screen..."

Energy shot out through the screen and the Doctor felt himself being slowly sucked into it.

Fight it...fight...

—

Claudia wasn't sure how much time passed between the television sucking she inside and walking around Florizel Street.

Again.

She hoped this wasn't a hallucination, a figment of her imagination designed by Crowley.

Or Lucifer, if he was the one holding her captive.

At least if that were the case, Sammy would be okay.

Her heart sank when the Doctor's face flashed in her mind.

She'd have to leave him. She never got to say goodbye. She knew he'd be okay, he had Rose, but...

She wanted to say goodbye, too.

"Claudia!"

Her head whipped around, surprise running over her face. There he was. Tall, suited, dark hair, brown eyes, a bright smile —

It was a hallucination. A trick. Surely.

He was running towards her, Rose at his side, a bright grin on her face. She ignored the hope in her chest. She wanted so desperately for this to be real.

But it wasn't. It couldn't be.

He was closer now, within arms reach, and she winced, expecting him to turn into Lucifer or Michael or Crowley and rip her to pieces.

"Hey, hey," his voice was softer, gentle, and his hands were too on her cheeks. "It's alright," he soothed her. "I'm here, it's okay. It's alright, Claudia."

Her eyes watered and she looked up at him, placing her hands on his wrists, pleading him.

"Please don't be fake," she begged. "Please don't hurt me. Michael, Lucifer, just — just let me have this for a second please—"

"—Hey, hey," he kissed her head softly. "It's me, it's me." He moved one hand from her face, placing it over his chest between his hearts. "It's beating. Both of them. I'm here. I promise. This is real."

"Doctor?" She asked tentatively, hopefully.

He nodded, the softest, kindest, most understanding look in his eyes. "I promise," he told her softly. "I swear, love, it's me. I won't go anywhere. And neither will you."

Tears gathered in her eyes and she threw her arms around him in a hug, burying her face in his neck. He held her tightly, squeezing her softly. His hand cradled her head — she was reminded of how Dean hugs exactly the same — he kissed her temple.

"Claudia!"

They pulled away from each other slowly, and tears slipped down Claudia's cheeks at Rose's excited, relieved face.

"Rose," she breathed out, pulling the girl into a tight hug. "Are you okay?" She asked. "Are you hurt?"

"Me?" Rose pulled back, hands on Claudia's shoulders. "I'm fine, I was with the Doctor. We were so worried for you."

"Really?" Claudia asked in a quiet voice. She wouldn't normally be this vulnerable, but the stress of the day and the possible hallucination was ruining her.

"Really," Rose nodded. "You're my sister," she leaned forward, placing her forward against Claudia's. "And I'm happy you're okay."

Claudia smiled, crying softly. "Me too, Rose. Me too."

—

As they sat side by side on the edge of the TARDIS, looking over the Earth's atmosphere, the Doctor clutched Claudia's hand tightly in his own.

Rose had gone to bed, but neither of them could sleep. She was too afraid to sleep and he was too afraid to lose her.

He glanced at her from the corner of his eye, a calm feeling in his chest. He was so angry today, so hateful. He was ashamed of his behavior.

He hated that side of himself.

And with her next to him, he didn't feel anything like it. He felt nothing but calm.

And as she bit her lip, deep in thought, her eyebrows furrowed together — he realized what it was she felt like.

Something he feared speaking, a word he scarcely used. A word he aligned with the TARDIS, and the TARDIS alone.

For centuries, he didn't use the word with a person. He swore he never would.

Not until her.

He squeezed her hand, looking back to the atmosphere of the Earth.

Claudia Winchester felt like home.

—

AHHHH okay so this was a LONGGGG chapter but hopefully you enjoyed
It was mostly the doctor's perspective which I haven't written for this story yet so hopefully you guys enjoyed it. I know he was fairly dark but he was pretty angry in this episode and I imagine these are some of his internal monologues we don't see.
Poor Claudia she's so traumatized :(
and do you guys like the relationships between the trio???
They're not romantic yet, yet they're not not romantic either
Just a couple idiots in love smh
Enjoy the slowburn there's sooooooo much that will happen before they get together
Okay thank you!!!!
Lmk your thoughts!!!