The war had been devastating enough, but this was madness. Nothing in my previous incarnations had prepared me for this, and I felt a sadness fall upon me. I had been the cause of the last act of the Time War, but I assumed it would all end in an instant. The TARDIS was severely crippled and out of control – drifting on the interstellar winds for hours. It was all I could do to patch and re-route enough systems to gain attitude control. Once that was done, I used the last of the time jumps the old girl had in her to get to Gallifrey. As all systems were unresponsive – save those that were working on emergency back up power – I opened the doors, and took a look outside.

I wished that I had not.

All around lay the broken shells of Daleks, but their insides had nothing inside them. The once proud Citadel was twisted and shattered and nothing remained except a small stump. As far as the eye could see, there was only debris. Buildings, Dalekanium fragments and parts from the glass dome. that had surrounded the capital. Only one building seemed to have any resembelence of what it had looked like, so I made my way over there. As I headed towards it, I could see no bodys, and in both my hearts I knew that I was the last of the Time Lords. As I got closer to the devistated building, I saw that it was where other TARDISes got taken to when in need of repair of to be broken up for scrap. If I was lucky, I might find parts to fix the TARDIS up enough to jup her inside the building. It would make loading her up easier at least, and then I could start proper repairs. I was just entering the main hanger, when I heard something move. At first I thought it was debris coming down, but then I saw a humanoid hand sticking out from underneath mangled equipment. I went over, not quite believeing that someone had survived, and started pulling away the shelves that buried the person. When I uncovered the face though, I stepped back in shock – it was Susan. Even with her entire face covered in bruises and dried and fresh blood, there was no doubt it was my Granddaughter lying in front of me dead and gone. I had had no idea that she was on Gallifrey, and I would have done something to keep her alive if possible. None of the other Time Lords had said anything to me, so they had either not known themselves, or else had lied to me. A scan of my sonic screwdriver confirmed that he was still in her first. From what was around, she had been trying to get to a TARDIS and escape, but that had not been possible for her. I took off my long coat and draped it over her. Suppressing the tears that threatened to spill down my face, I decided to break a rule of time – I was going to stop her death.

#

This is not a good idea

"What would you know about this?" I asked.

Do I not? I know how much you love Susan. I only wish to caution you. I will obey your commands though, Theta

"You know I prefer 'Doctor', no one calls me that any more" I replied.

But I am your oldest 'Companion', Theta… everywhere you go, I always go with you

"Stop it will you. You only come with me as you're a Time Travel Capsule"

Mmm

"I can't win against you can I?"

Not this time

"I thought not" and I turned from the main console.

Theta? May I suggest that you bring everything that you can bring, into my cargo bay? You would not have to worry about spare parts for a very long time

"If you was a human, you would make a very good nagging wife"

Thank you

"I'll see what I can do" I said, and I left the TARDIS to doing system checks. It had taken three weeks to get the Vortex Manipulator working alone, and longer still for all the other repairs that needed doing. Even though I worked nearly every possible moment, I still took the time to visit Susan. Though the point seemed silly, I had buried her overlooking the mountains of Solace and Solitude – one of her nicer bits on the planet. After a while, I felt myself stiring myself into life, and headed off to get more parts into the TARDIS.

Welcome Back

"I was only gone an hour"

Nonetheless – Welcome Back

"Have you completed final systems checks?" I asked

Indeed. All systems check out as either fully operational, or as being powered up and under test. Hull integrity is at 100%, and I have a full fuel load

"I have to ask you something" I said, and there wa a little pause before I was answered.

Yes?

"I have the part which will allow you to change shape. I have something to fix your Camelion Circuit" and in response there was a slight humming from the TARDIS.

I know. I cataloged all of the parts you brought to me. I do not want to change. Like you, I have grown fond of this shape, and do not want another

"Alright, old girl"

Old Girl? May I remind you, Theta, that I am older then you? Even I am amazed at what things you have picked up from the humans

"Now that's not fair!" I protested.

Ah, Doctor…

"If you was a child, then I'd send you to bed without dinner? But your not so I can't just cut out the teasing… at least for now.

Whatever you say

"You know my dear, I believe you are almost human"

How dare you!

"Ah so we can't stand a little teasing back, can we?" despite everything, I still smiled at the reaction

Drop dead

"Already have done"

Encore

"Let us get this show underway shall we? My only regret is that none of my other companions could be here. Then again, a War Zone is no place to have children is it?"

That is why you left with Susan all those years ago, is it not?

"That and the fact I was hated by the other Time Lords. It was luck that you had your tracking device removed. Otherwise we wouldn't have got past a week away before they caught us" and there was another long pause. Then a simple message appeared flashing on the console screen in front of me.

TARDIS standing by

When I used the TARDIS, I always simply jumped the ship from one spot in time to another. Given the seriously dangerous task I was about to embark upon, I decided to do things by the book.

"Activate engine sequence"

Engine sequence activated

Check flight controls

Flight controls are green

"Right. Set primary fuel pumps"

Set

"Main engine start"

Don't boys just love their toys?

"Get on with the task at hand will you?"

Of course…Engine sequence: Complete

"Let's go then" and without another word, I started to travel through time to the same spot several weeks before. Time travel is often described as just going from A to B in time, but actually one had to be careful in calculations. That never bothered me normally, but this was different circumstances altogether. After a minute or so, I felt a slight bump as the TARDIS entered the past. I looked at the display, and noted that we had arrived several minutes before we should have really got there. "What is this for?" I asked the TARDIS.

You require as much time as you can get

"Time?"

Yes. While I was waiting for you to finish loading everything into my cargo bays, I spent some time going over my memory and logic circuits. I decided that I could not afford to lose Susan again. Not at the risk of you losing your mind, and becoming heart broken

"That's not a machine thing to do" I noted.

No, agreed the TARDIS. It is the human thing to do though. I understood what the TARDIS meant. She could not afford to have Susan die again – because she loved her almost as much as me. I remembered during my first incarnation, I would often find a very young Susan sitting cross legged by the TARDIS console reading a book aloud. It was my impression that she thought she was reading the craft the story. She stopped doing it when she was older, but the TARDIS would always remember those times.

"Access central computer" I ordered aloud. When I had come to take part in the Time War, I was offered a brand new craft, but I preferred to stick with my trusty Type 40. The Time Lords had then set upon bringing my ship to full operational status. If it wasn't for that, neither of us would be here after the battering the explosion had caused the TARDIS to suffer.

Accessing

"Use the life form indicators, and cross reference with Susan's last recorded bio signature. Track down where she is at the moment"

Processing… she is currently located in a room 1300 yards south from this location. Theory: - she is in her quarters.

"I better go and get her then, as well as much stuff as we can bring" I said, and then as I opened the doors, something made me pause. "Wanting me happy is not the only reason you are helping is it?" I questioned.

No

"What is it?"

Susan never told me how Swallows and Amazons ended

"You would risk time itself for the ending of a story?"

You dare to challenge that? May I remind you that you yourself have done many things that could have seriously damaged the time lines?

"You know" I began, "I am beginning to regret ever having fixed certain circuits of yours?"

Touch my circuits, and I blow up the kettle!

"Fine… I'm going. Is Susan still in the same location?" I asked.

Yes. And yes

"Yes?"

Yes the kettle is still boiling

I gave a smile to myself as I left the TARDIS. What seemed like a difficult task had got a bit easier. As I made my way towards where Susan was, I hoped that she would want to come with me. I would not force her to do anything, but I hoped with all my heart she would come with me once again.