URGENT NOTE: As you may know, the BBC starts shooting the 50th anniversary special this week. If you'd like to see a proper tribute to Sarah Jane in the special, please consider signing the petition at www dot ipetitions dot com / petition/sarah-jane-smith-dr-who-tribute (automatic link removed because we don't want to break any rules) and passing it on to any groups you belong to. If we all pass it on, we can make a difference! Time (ironically) is of the essence! Thanks!
In "Little Girl, Big Magic," the Doctor saves a five year old Sarah Jane from the accident that killed her parents. That story stands on its own, but we found that we loved the idea of little Sarah spending time with the Doctor so much that we just couldn't leave things alone. This story (which also stands on its own) takes place after he drops her off at Lavinia's, but before he meets her at Deffry Vale. If you're a stickler for continuity, don't worry, so are we. We promise that everything will fit together. Eventually. :)
The Doctor closed the TARDIS doors behind him, his hearts pounding. He'd thought that it would be easy to let go of little Sarah Jane. After all, she was just a child and they had so much ahead of them. But it wasn't. And yet seeing her at home, with her Aunt Lavinia, it just seemed so much more dangerous than anything else they had done. Spending time with her now, long before they were supposed to meet, was playing with fire, and he knew it.
He stared at the console. He should go straight to 2009, to finally have his happily-ever-after with the adult Sarah Jane. He really should.
But then, how long would that last? Thirty years? Forty? Fifty at the outside.
And then there was the fact that he felt like he'd just abandoned her all over again, just as he had after Castria.
But she was right there, he thought. Right there, little, years away from meeting him. Surely it wouldn't be that bad to go back there. Just to see her. Just so that she knew he hadn't abandoned her. Just to make her feel a little better. Just to make himself feel a little better.
He felt like a child who'd discovered a box of matches. They made such a pretty light, such a tempting smell, gave such a thrill when he struck them. Surely striking just one more little match wouldn't hurt...
The Doctor finished cleaning up Sarah's toys and checked the coordinates. He'd just make it a quick trip, and look in on Sarah on her sixth birthday. She would remember him when she saw him, of course, but with her unexpected appearance just as he was leaving, he wasn't sure what she would or wouldn't remember otherwise. If she hadn't said a word to Lavinia about him all this time, Lavinia was unlikely to let him get too close. After all, to her, he was just a stranger who'd brought her niece home. He wouldn't have much hope of spending too much time with Sarah. But any time he could get was welcome, even if all he did was say 'hello.'
When the TARDIS landed, he walked back down the street towards Lavinia's house. It was spring now, and flowers were blooming in the front of the 1957 yards. Well, most of them. Lavinia's was neat, and precise, with no debris, no mess, and rows of neatly organized blooms that contrasted with the typical scattered English garden. 'Ever the scientist,' the Doctor thought. Still, they looked as though they hadn't been subject to their usual standard of care. Taking in a five year old will do that to you, he mused, knocking on the door.
Lavinia Smith opened the door and smiled at him. "It's Doctor Smith, isn't it? I'd almost given up hope of seeing you again. Do come in, please."
"Thanks so much," the Doctor said, glad that that hurdle, at least, was cleared. "So nice to see you again."
"I take it you've come back to visit with Sarah Jane," said Lavinia.
"I have," he said, trying to read her face, and failing. "It's her birthday tomorrow, isn't it?"
'Yes it is," Lavinia smiled. "She'll be six now come the morning, and she attends school. She's doing very well at it too."
"I'm sure she is. She's a very intelligent little girl." He sat down in the chair she indicated and watched as she sat down across the table from him. "Is she ... happy?"
"She still misses her parents, naturally, but she's been slowly adjusting." Lavinia grew somewhat sad. "It's been an adjustment for both of us, but to be honest, it's helped both of us I think to have each other to turn to. School's been a good distraction for her as well," Lavinia mustered a smile. "Can I get you some tea Doctor Smith?"
"I'd love some, thank you." He watched her retreat to the kitchen. She looked so much more than the year older that she was when he'd seen her such a short time ago. But then, loss will do that to you, he thought. And taking care of Sarah Jane was likely a bit stressful as well.
Lavinia came back and sat down again. "I've put the kettle on. We can chat while it's heating up." She gave the Doctor friendly look. "Have you come back to visit then?"
"I was in the neighborhood and I thought I'd drop in and see how she was doing, say hello, that sort of thing."
She nodded. "By the way, I think it's only fair to tell you, that after the last time I saw you, I made some inquiries about you."
"Inquiries?" he asked, raising an eyebrow and making a point to smile. "With whom, if I may ask."
"Let's just say that I spoke to a very reliable source, and you weren't exactly honest with me about the circumstances surrounding your bringing home Sarah Jane."
"Oh?" he asked, wondering just what Sarah Jane had seen fit to tell her Aunt.
"Yes. I found out that you're a very modest man. You didn't find Sarah wandering down the road at all. In fact, you risked your life to pull her out of the back seat. And I understand that you were injured in the process."
"Welllll," he hedged, unconsciously rubbing the still-healing burn on his hand. "It wasn't anything serious, and there's no need to make things overdramatic. The important thing is that she's all right, and she's home, isn't it?"
"Yes. Well, it is very important that Sarah came home alive and safe. And I admire your modesty. But I'm afraid I owe you a tremendous debt. I hope your hand is healed."
"Oh yes, it's fine," he said, wiggling his fingers at her. "So where is the birthday girl?"
Lavinia noticed that he was a bit uncomfortable about all this, and decided to let the rest of it go for now. After all, her intent was only to thank him, not to make things awkward. "Sarah Jane is outside having a tea party with her dolls. I'm sure she'll be delighted to see you. If you like, I'll get your tea and you can go out and join her."
"Thanks, I appreciate that." He stood and when she handed him the tea, he went out into the back garden.
Sarah Jane was sitting at a small table with several small chairs. She was wearing one of her Aunt's old hats, and she had one of Lavinia's handbags hanging from her wrist. The long pink formal gown over her play clothes was so big it seemed to swallow her up. She didn't see the Doctor right away, however, because it seemed that she was dealing with a rather sticky problem at the moment. "You silly old bear, you need to save some of the honey for the other guests. You're to wait politely for everyone else to have been served, and then you may have what's left," she said, pointing a scolding finger at a stuffed Winnie the Pooh.
"He can't help it," the Doctor said, "he's just that kind of bear."
Sarah startled for a moment and then made a running leap into the arms of the Doctor, almost tripping over her gown as she ran. He barely managed to set his tea down in time. "You're back," she exclaimed. "My Prince is back!"
The Doctor gave her a huge hug, her little legs swinging in the air. For him, it had only been a few minutes since he'd seen her, but as good as it felt, it might as well have been a year, as it had been for her. "And a Happy Birthday to you. I hear you're six now."
"I am, I'm in school now too, and I can read," she said proudly.
"Well, I'm very proud of you," he said. "But then, I was proud of you before. And I'm not surprised you can read, you were already reading a little bit when you were just five, and a little girl.""Look how much taller I am," she said, stretching herself up as high as she could.
The Doctor sat her back down in her chair and knelt beside her. "I know, I can see you've grown so much since I was here."
She reached up and started playing with his hair. "How long will you stay?"
He smiled. "I'll stay all day if you like."
"I see you brought some tea, would you care to join us," she asked, pointing to a small chair. "Maid Marion doesn't mind moving." She picked up a medieval looking doll and moved her to another chair, positioning her to sit with Elizabeth the stuffed owl. "She likes sitting next to Elizabeth much better than Pooh Bear anyway. Do you mind sitting next to him?"
"Not at all," the Doctor said. He considered trying to squeeze into one of the chairs, but he realized that his legs were much too long, so he sat down on the grass instead. "I happen to like Pooh Bear very much," he told the stuffed animal. "Isn't that right, Edward?" He made the stuffed bear nod its head.
"Oh, I didn't know you two were already acquainted," she said very seriously, pretending to pour out tea into the tiny cups on the table. She motioned towards the stuffed owl. "You already know Elizabeth, but have you met Maid Marion? If you haven't, then you need to be formally introduced." She turned to the doll. "Maid Marion, this is Prince Charming, my future husband." She then turned to the Doctor. "Prince Charming, this is Maid Marion."
"I don't believe that we've met," he said. He held a hand out to the doll. "Good morning, Lady Marion, I am the Doctor, and it is a pleasure to meet you."
"She's going to marry Robin Hood one day. Have you ever met him?"
"I have, actually. A lovely man, if a bit gamey. But then living in the forest is like that. Not much opportunity to shower. However, I'm sure that Lady Marion here will be very happy with him."
"I think he's quite dashing actually. I've only seen him on the telly though, so I can't tell what he smells like. But I like his smile very much."
"I'm sure he has a lovely smile," the Doctor said, trying to work out exactly which version of Robin Hood she was talking about. Finally, he decided that it didn't matter. "As do you," he said formally.
Sarah Jane crooked her finger and motioned for him to come closer to her.
He leaned in, putting his nose practically up against hers.
She turned his head so she could whisper in his ear. "I think you're smile is much nicer than Robin Hood's, but I don't want to be rude to Maid Marion," she said softly.
He laughed. "Thank you," he whispered. "I must say, your manners are impeccable."
"Thank you very much," she said as she sat up and fussed with her hat. "I've been taking etiquette lessons. Aunt Lavinia says I need them to be a proper young lady. My teacher says I have very good deportment."
"And she's correct," the Doctor said. "You're more polite than I am."
"It's not your fault," she said. "You didn't know I was having a tea party today, so we must overlook the fact that you're not dressed properly."
"Yes, I see that you're wearing formal dress. But I am wearing a suit. Perhaps a tuxedo would have been more appropriate?"
Sarah Jane couldn't 'keep up appearances' any longer, and burst into giggles. "You did it all wrong, you didn't bow or kiss my hand, or anything. You need to go to etiquette lessons too."
He burst into giggles with her. "I'm so terribly sorry, m'lady," he said, standing and bowing to her. He took her hand and pressed his lips to the back of it. "Please forgive my horrible lack of protocol."
Sarah smiled approvingly, then bowed her head graciously towards him. "I could forgive you for anything, my Lord.""Oh, thank you, now I may go on with my life."
Before Sarah Jane could answer, Lavinia came up to them. "Sarah Jane my dear, don't forget that Mrs. Caswell will be here in a few minutes, and you'll need to be on your best behavior for her." Then she turned to the Doctor. "You're welcome to stay and visit as long as you like, Doctor Smith, but I'm afraid I have a rather urgent engagement in a little while and I have to leave. I do hope you'll still be here when I get back. It should only take an hour or two."
The Doctor could tell this was more than a simple appointment. He stood. "Is everything all right?"
Lavinia looked at him closely, debating whether or not she should confide in him. "I don't know why, but I feel that I could tell you just about anything, Doctor Smith," she finally said. "Sarah Jane, would you please excuse us for a moment?"
"Yes, Auntie," Sarah nodded.
"Thank you," said Lavinia. "Do you mind stepping back into the house so we can talk," she asked the Doctor.
"Of course," the Doctor said, retrieving his tea before heading back into the house. "What's wrong?"
TO BE CONTINUED...