The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word BOLTING
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
B
O
L
T
I
N
G
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Fixing/what someone running scared is doing" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case fixing/what someone running scared is doing = bolting.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does BOLTING mean?
BOLTING verb- To connect or assemble pieces using a bolt.
- To secure a door by locking or barring it.
- To flee, to depart, to accelerate suddenly.
- To cause to start or spring forth; to dislodge (an animal being hunted).
- To strike or fall suddenly like a bolt.
- To escape.
- Of a plant, to grow quickly; to go to seed.
- To swallow food without chewing it.
- To drink one's drink very quickly; to down a drink.
- To refuse to support a nomination made by a party or caucus with which one has been connected; to break away from a party.
- To utter precipitately; to blurt or throw out.
- To sift, especially through a cloth.
- To sift the bran and germ from wheat flour.
- To separate, assort, refine, or purify by other means.
- To discuss or argue privately, and for practice, as cases at law.
- A sifting, as of flour or meal.
- A private arguing of cases for practice by students, as in the Inns of Court.