The Diner is getting full as the day goes on, so by 2.30, Clara is afraid to close shop. Sally overhears Clara and Ash talking about closing, and she butts in. 

'Why would you need to do that?' she asks.

'Ash and I have to meet Sherlock at 3,' Clara replies.

'Say, then I can help you if you'll let me tag along.'

Clara sighs, 'Fine. How can you help us?'

Sally grabs the 'Closed' sign and waves it in the air, towards the customers. 'Alright, everyone! We're closin' up! Pick up your stuff and leave!'

Grumbling, the customers gather their things and leave the diner.

'Was there a nicer way to do that?' Clara asks, not in favour of Sally's method. 'We're trying to keep people coming here, you know.'

'Um... No.' Sally says, hanging the 'Closed' sign on the door. 'Well then! We're ready to go!' she skips out of the Diner and hails a cab. Ash rolls her eyes after Sally before the girls follow her.

'Umm, where are we going?' Sally asks Clara once they've reached the cab.

'Diogenes Club,' Clara says to the cabbie and gets in, ignoring Sally.

'Yeah,' Sally says to the cabbie as she gets in after Ash. The cabbie nods his head. The cab ride is silent except for Sally trying to engage Ash in a senseless conversation.

The text Clara had gotten from Sherlock had said to go to the 'same place,' so Clara leads the girls on the route she knows goes to Mycroft's office. Opening the door, Clara sees that Officer Lestrade and Mycroft are there with Sherlock as well. Clara deduces that John is at Sarah's--again. Her ship is beginning to sink. Butterflies do a little dance in Clara's stomach. She doesn't know where she should stand, so she holds the door for Sally and Ash.

Sherlock gives her a look that asks, 'What is Sally doing here?' Clara responds with one that says, 'She insisted on tagging along.' They glare at each other. Lestrade waves at Clara and she waves back, smiling.

'As I was saying to my brother, I have found more evidence that you, Clara, murdered the three victims. I am afraid you are definitely going to jail now, Miss Oswald.' Sherlock says, his eyes stony and emotionless. Nervousness takes charge of Clara's whole system. Does Sherlock really love her if he is able to look so uncaring while sentencing her to jail? And why is he calling her Miss Oswald again? But then Clara notices a patch sticking out from Sherlock's sleeve.

Calm down, Clara, she tells herself. You're not going to jail.

'No, I'm not,' Clara states. Sherlock raises his eyebrows, as does Mycroft. Sally is standing in the corner, obviously still shocked by the news that Clara is a murderer. Ash is watching Clara and waiting.

'Oh? Are you planning on resisting us, then? Because that will be even more jail time.' Sherlock smirks.

'No. I'm not going to jail because I didn't do the crime--and I have proof. You can't send me to jail if your evidence is incorrect,' she says, and she can see Ash fidget out of the corner if her eye.

'Oh really? The only thing you could have that could overpower my evidence is a confession.' Sherlock counters, thinking he has won.

'Which I just so happen to have.' Surprise registers on Sherlock's face, but only for a moment. 'From my dear friend Ash. Isn't that right?'

Ash steps up. 'Yes, it is. I killed the victims and framed Clara.'

Sherlock tries to regain his composure. 'You can't just barge in and take the blame for her. May I ask how you did it?'

'Yes. I am a master at disguise, so I disguised myself as Clara and faked the evidence. I am also an experienced criminal so I exited through the ceiling.' Ash explains, and Clara points upward to abbreviate her point. Sherlock shoots her an annoyed glance.

'And why did you do it?'

'You could say I was just playing matchmaker, I guess,' Sherlock begins to understand what she means, and his eyes grow wide as Ash smiles. Lestrade and Mycroft are obviously lost. Mycroft has just lost interest and is doing work on his phone.

'So do I arrest her then?' Lestrade asks, pointing to Ash.

'Yes, but wait!' Clara says, remembering to talk to Sherlock first. 'Can I just speak with Sherlock before you do that?' Lestrade nods and begins a conversation with Ash.

Clara grabs Sherlock's arm and drags him out into the hall. In doing so, she rips off Sherlock's patch and stuffs it in her pocket, knowing that this will only work without the patch. Sherlock's facial expression softens.

'Umm, Sherlock, can I ask a favour?' He nods and stuffs his hands in his coat pockets. 'You see, Ash is my best friend. And no matter what she does, she always will be. So I'm wondering if... could you please make sure this isn't on her record? She is truly a good citizen, she'll just go to extremes to get what she wants. And in this case... she wanted us to be together.' Clara purses her lips, and Sherlock nods knowingly. 'So what I'm asking is... You can throw her in jail, but can her record please stay clean? Your brother is the British Government! Just ask him too... alright?'

Sherlock looks at her. Her eyes seem to have inflated, only making her look cuter. How could he ever say no?

'Alright,' he answers, 'I'll talk to Mycroft.' Sherlock heads back inside silently and Clara follows suit.

Back in the room, Clara nods at Lestrade, indicating that their chat has concluded. He nods back and pulls a pair of handcuffs out of his pocket.

'Really sorry about this, Ash,' he tells her as he cuffs her one hand to his.

Clara glances over at Sherlock, who is conversing with Mycroft. Mycroft nods along to whatever Sherlock is saying. Relieved, Clara heads over to Ash, who is departing from the room along with Greg Lestrade. Ash stops when she sees Clara coming over. Before Ash and Greg have a chance to leave the room, Clara pulls Ash into a big hug.

'Stay safe,' she whispers is Ash's ear as Ash hugs her back. 'I love you,'

'Don't worry about me, and remember the plan,' Ash whispers back, then smirks. 'And the feeling is mutual.'

Clara smirks because she knows that's definitely something Sherlock would say. The girls let go of each other and Lestrade leads Ash out the door. While Clara is watching them leave, Sally approaches her.

'So, then,' Sally says, 'It seems you're better than Sherlock.'

'Better than Sherlock Holmes? You're funny, Sally,' Clara responds, incredulous.

'No, I'm serious. You solved two cases that Sherlock couldn't. Bravo.' Sally counters. Clara ponders that fact.

'You can't blame Sherlock for that. There is no way he could have known it was Ash.' Clara defends him.

'I suppose so,' Sally sighs and leaves. Clara waits a few moments for Sherlock, but it seems that he isn't leaving anytime soon, so she ends up leaving by herself. She wonders where she is going to sleep now, with Ash gone. Someone needs to run the diner, so Clara decides she will move back into the TARDIS. She reminds herself to stop by her flat to pick up her stuff.

Out on the streets of London, Clara hears a ping from her jacket pocket.

There's still time, Oswin. -JM x

Time for what? -CO

Time to save your own skin.
STOP PROTECTING SHERLOCK. -JM x

Let's see... No. -CO

Oh, Clara Clara Clara. He'll never fall for you. He's Sherlock Holmes. - JM x

I am aware of that. -CO

Looks like you've chosen the side of angels, then. Now it's time to play the game. -JM xx

~~~~~

WC: 1312