Italics is the past. Normal is the present.

Clara finally got them all in the car, but driving worried her. But eventually she talked herself into it. She got in and was immediately shouted at by everyone, random comments.

As Clara told the story The Doctor started to notice things he hadn't previously noticed before. The sun hit her face and he studied it.

He could see the redness in blotchy patches on her skin; the beginnings of bruising yellowing her jaw and neck, her hand - knuckles rubbed raw and dotted with dried blood.

And she simply continued to stare forward at her feet that remained deadly still on the floor. She spoke in hard tones, scattered and unattached.

The Doctor watched her a moment, trying to gauge the emotion on her face until he realized it was completely blank, the thoughts in her mind so traumatic she'd pushed all thought aside to exist in a protected void.

He watched her blink once, eyelids dropping heavily as her brow knotted together - as though he had reached out to a point in space, instead of just a few feet from him, beckoning for a response from her - before they re-opened and she shifted in slow motion to look up at him.

He waited, hoping she would brighten, hoping she would tell him some grand tale about beating off a mugger, or saving some child from some terrible thing. He waited, hoping the puzzle he was putting together in his mind were missing that one piece that made the vacancy with which she was starting to make some other sense.

Clara didn't know where to drive she just started driving towards her flat hoping one of them would pipe up and say where to go.

Her mouth opened slightly and for a moment no sound emerged, but then she stared curiously at him and whimpered simply, 'My cup... It's... Empty' she stared into the empty mug.

Nodding slowly, he stood up and took a step towards her, hands jutting into his pockets before coming out again because she reached for his arm, wincing in obvious pain as she tried to stand. He didn't question her as she stood there in front of him, head bowed, hand still firmly gripping his coat because he got the impression from the tremors he was feeling that if she let go, she might collapse.

Eventually she was given an address. She knew where it was, not long from her flat actually and she had a friend who lived in that block of flats too. So she drove them there. It was now extremely late and Clara was extremely tired and moaned at them to get out of the car.

The notion terrified him because Clara was, if nothing else, strength. She was resolve and clarity and absolute power in the face of danger and now she was standing next to him like am empty shell of a woman.

"Clara," he began as she tugged him forward.

'Sit down. I'll take it' he said taking the mug from her. He placed his hand over hers gripping the mug but quickly she let go to stop the skin interaction, and before the doctor was holding it tightly it fell to the ground with a thud, smashing and braking against the hard floor.

She had to go with them, no way would they get up 10 flights of stairs without her. So she got out locked the car and led them all inside weary of the men shouting at her as she entered the block of flats.

'Sorry' she sobbed covering her eyes with her hands.

'I'm so sorry. I can't do anything' she perched back onto the sofa crying into her hands.

'No, no. This is fine. It's just a mug. Not the end of the world yeah? I'll clean it up and it'll be just fine' The Doctor tried to assure her.

'I-I don't think you can fix it' Clara said no longer referring to the mug but to herself.

'Oh, I'll try my very best. I usually get what I want' He said giving her a smile as he bent down starting to pick up the large bits of the broken mug and placing it in his palm.

'Here are you keys. I hope I never have to see you again. Bye' Clara said pushing them in their apartment. Dan shouted 'Hey come in! The night is young'

'No, the night is grey and old and developing wrinkles. I'm tired. I'm going home, goodnight' Clara replied turning away.

'Wait! If your tired you can always spend the night' he yelled down the hallway even though Clara was two steps away.

'I don't think so' Clara smiled awkwardly and started to walk down the hallway and down the stairs.