Clara yawns and pours herself a cup of coffee. There aren't many people in the Diner, just a few homeless who stayed overnight. Ash is sleeping in because Clara is here this morning, so she doesn't have to do any work. Free day for her. Last night Ash blasted her music and kept Clara awake, so today Clara's a bit groggy. 

Knowing Ash, Clara suspects she will sleep the day away. Clara knows she doesn't have to take care of the homeless, they are just grateful to have somewhere to sleep. Plus, they're wonderful company.

It's 5am and her Diner technically doesn't open until 8am, so Clara has some time to kill.

What to do, what to do, she thinks. The first thing that pops into her head is to visit Sherlock, but Clara has a feeling that she wouldn't be welcome after what he did, or tried to do. Besides, he said he had plans for today anyway.

Then Clara remembers Ash's vault. She gets a mischievous idea that involves the sonic sunglasses Ash gave her.

The plan is simple. Use the sonic glasses to unlock Ash's vault and explore inside. What better way to spend her morning?

After taking a trip to her room to get her glasses, Clara finds herself in front of the vault's door. Trying to remember how to operate the glasses, she taps the rims. This seems to work because the vault door hisses open, and Clara sees the familiar metal shelves again.

Since each section is marked by a letter, Clara assumes that there are 26 shelves total. Since she already got a good look at Section N yesterday, Clara decides to start at the beginning, with A.

This section is just another place for Ash's journals, apparently, so Clara skips over it.

Section B is more interesting. It's shelves are filled with objects Clara recognises as things Ash has stolen or bartered. On the first few shelves Clara spies the Doctor's hand and other objects belonging to the Doctor.

She spots a galactic camera-map, used illegally by tour guides all over the galaxies wanting to become the best at their job, a Book of Answers (there are several copies of this book) which answers any and every question you have, and... a trans-disc? A trans-disc allows the user to change their complete appearance, down to their clothes, into a different person's. This device looks like a long, flat, white disc and it is used by galactic criminals looking to frame someone or not get caught. To operate it, you show it a picture of someone and it automatically activates. Clara wonders, why would Ash need or have this?

Then it strikes her.

Clara knows she didn't commit the crime, so then who did? Right now, Ash is looking like a likely suspect. And the strange escape just makes sense. Clara looks around on the shelves for the object that will clarify her hypothesis.

She finds it: a Vortex Manipulator. It allows you to travel anywhere in time and space, just like a TARDIS made for one. And the way it's designed, all plain and black, makes Clara think that Ash stole it from the Black Archives. It's the manipulator that was donated by Captain Jack Harkness.

Now, Clara has a good idea of what might've happened that night at the Victoria and Albert Museum, and everywhere else the crimes were committed. Ash used a trans-disc to disguise herself as Clara, went and got an ID of Clara and put it in a wallet. Then, during the night, she went to the V&A Museum and murdered the poor sod. For her magical disappearance, Ash used her stolen Vortex Manipulator to teleport her back to the diner. It just makes sense! Now Clara wonders, why did Ash do this to her?

'Clara?' Clara hears Ash's voice from outside the vault. Clara contemplates whether to hide or come out. 'It's no use. I know you're in there,' That's settled then. When Clara exits the vault, she sees that Ash looks more nervous than her. So she speaks first.

'Ash, was it you? Did you frame me?' Clara asks, looking and feeling hurt.

Ash pauses before speaking, '...Yes. And I can't say I'm sorry... I got the outcome I wanted.' she looks guiltily down at the floor. Time feels frozen.

'But why?' Clara asks again, stepping curiously towards Ash.

'I was just playing matchmaker, I guess,' Clara must look confused, so Ash explains. 'When I say I got the outcome I wanted, I mean that my plan worked. I just wanted you and Sherlock to be together, or fall for each other. You have to see that you guys were meant for each other!' she raises her hands and makes gestures in the air for emphasis.

'And how do you know that your plan worked?' Clara inquires, gulping.

'It's obvious. Your eyes tell all when he walks into the Diner. And I know he feels the same way! He'd be an idiot not to!' she says. Clara knows Sherlock is far from an idiot. Then Ash pauses and looks down at the ground guiltily again. Clara knows Ash really does feel sorry for framing her, and she sighs.

'Ash, you're my best friend. You have been for at least 150 years! Do you think I care for you so little that betraying me would make a difference?' Clara states, quoting what the Doctor had once told her. Every word is heartfelt.

Ash looks up, and Clara can see tears brimming in her eyes. Clara runs over to her before she collapses into sobs.

Ash hugs her back, feeling as if a gigantic weight has just been lifted from her chest. Clara can feel Ash's tears on her shoulder as Ash buries her face in her blue sweater. Tears slip out of Clara's eyes as well.

After a few minutes, Clara breaks the embrace and leads Ash back to the diner. By now, Ash is nearly hiccuping and gulping for air. Clara sits Ash down at the bar and pours them both a cuppa.

'You know what I have to do now though, right? Turn you in...' Ash nods sadly and stares into her cup. 'But, hey, listen. I'll go and ask Sherlock if this please won't be on your record, and if he loves me as you say, then he'll say yes. And then we can bust you out of jail soon after.' Ash chuckles a bit and nods, and the mention of her OTP has seemed to cheer her up.

'Just like that, then?' Ash asks. Clara nods. 'Alright.' Ash laughs a bit through her tears and Clara goes around the counter to hug her.

'Great. Do I have your confession? You did the crime the way I suspect you did it, right?' Clara asks again for confirmation. Ash and she have a way of communicating through gaze and body language that they developed over a long time, so Ash usually knows what Clara thinks. Ash says yes to both questions. 'Okay. And if Sherlock asks how you did it, say that you are a master of disguise and are a retired criminal.' Ash smiles at that lie. Then Clara reminds herself, she probably has been both of those things at some point.

Clara opens her phone to text Sherlock, only to see that she already has a message from him. It reads,

Meet at Diogenes Club, same place, at 3pm. -SH

Clara texts back,

Great. I'll bring my friend. -CO

~~~~~

This chapter and the next chapter are set at the same time. Remember that...

~Sofia xo

WC: 1279