A/N: This fic is based on stories Smith & McCrimmon Investigative Services, Ltd. and Return to the Home by the Sea by Crystal Rose of Pollux (read them, they're just awesome!). The basis is that the Second Doctor and Jamie hold an investigative agency in New York City during working for Timelords (Season 6B).

And also I'd like to thank Fezzes on 221b for the kind words. It was partly to them that I started it.

Please tell me what you think!


Sometimes days pass one after one, so anybody could get confused even with dates, because yesterday, today and tomorrow create one single line which doesn't seem to be divided. But when life decides to give you trials, expect anything - it may be tougher than any crooked imagination. Expect the unexpected. And it took place this time as well.

The start was quite usual for those who knew. At first the office in New York City, the door of which was labelled Smith & McCrimmon Investigative Services, Ltd. and which had been rented for some decades (and those who had rented it never seemed to grow old, but this was noticed only by one or two persons, who preferred not getting into trouble or get the reputation of madmen) came to life - wooshing sounds filled it, and when they calmed down, there was a click of the key in the lock. From the inside!

"I suppose this time there could be something worth attention, otherwise the TARDIS coordinate settings wouldn't have been blocked this way". A little man with a mop of black hair (hardly ever touched by a comb) glanced into the corridor, which was empty. "What I can't stand is..."

"Narrowing the way down". His pal, a much younger man in a black turtleneck sweater and a genuine red kilt, rolled his eyes. "Rambling again, aye, Doctor?"

"Yes. Rambling. Sorry, Jamie. You know that I can't stand..."

Another sound followed. If the previous one sounded both like heavy breathing, engines working and tree leaves rustling (all together and multiplied by one thousand), this was most similar to the strike of lightning. Light steps echoed through the corridor, and a boy of about seven or eight entered the office.

At first the Doctor and Jamie were surprised. One: the kids were usually not allowed to walk around deep at night, and this kid didn't seem lost - on the contrary, he had a really knowing look. Two: as far as the TARDIS database had suggested, the year was 1960, and the boy's clothing was at least 2000s fashion. Three: who would've sent a child to a detective agency?.. However, the Doctor quickly took the initiative.

"Welcome to Smith and McCrimmon Investigative Services, Limited", he started. "I am Doctor Smith, and this is my helper Mr. McCrimmon. How may we be of service?"

"My name is Lionel Temple. The reason I'm here is that my older sister has gone missing", the boy said. "I've read that you investigate strange cases. Is that true?"

"Yes, we do", the Doctor nodded. "What exactly do you find strange, Lionel?"

"She has literally dissolved in thin air", Lionel explained. "And all her belongings like cell phone and vortex manipulator has been left home. She would have never left without them".

"Vortex manipulator?" Jamie echoed.

"I guess that you should be familiar with the principles of time travelling if you solved so many riddles connected with it". Lionel wasn't asking, he was sure about what he was talking.

"You mean that you came from the future?" the Doctor pointed out.

"Yes. Year 2018", Lionel nodded. "I though you would have some craft, so I could give you the coordinates, and you could help me".


Though this was already really odd (as far as the Doctor knew, Earthlings mastered time travelling not earlier than year 2100), things began getting curiouser and curiouser. Lionel wasn't astonished when he learned that the TARDIS was bigger on the inside - he just mentioned that "things like these are already been worked out in the physical labs, and yours is not too balanced". Moreover, he joined his vortex manipulator (which looked like a huge leather bracelet on his wrist) with the TARDIS console and entered all the needed settings from the first try.

However, this was when the futuristic details were over. The sight of evening London, year 2018 wasn't seemingly differed from that to which the Doctor was used. But this was only at first sight. From time to time adults and children walking around were vanishing, and no one seemed surprised by it. And everybody, excluding littlest children, had leather bracelets on their left wrists.

When the Doctor and Jamie were invited to Lionel's house (Mr. Temple was glad that there would be help, while Mrs. Temple was far from happy), they were met by the same sight. Ordinary at first, but what then?

"She was last seen in our room", Lionel explained, leading them upstairs. "I haven't touched any of her belongings".

The Doctor took the vortex manipulator (already dusted - Lionel was telling the truth about 'not touching') from the bed-table, turned it on and found the recording of the latest travel. "Harrods". Nothing special.

"Do you all have them?" he asked.

"Yes. But don't worry, the laws about time travelling are very strict, and no one dares to break them", Lionel assured.

"And why did you ask us for help if your parents have these manipulators as well?" Jamie wondered.

"Mother can't stand this, and father didn't believe that you could help find my sister. I don't believe she would've left home. She doesn't even go shopping without her cell phone!"


"Well, what will you say, Jamie?" the Doctor asked, having closed the TARDIS doors behind them.

"I'm not as smart as you, but I thought that 2018 is too early for time travelling. And the bairn said about laws".

"That means that it's serious. Very, very serious".

"And how are we going to search for the wee lass? We have nothing except the not so right 2018".

"Jamie, we do have a hint", the Doctor stated. "The DNA pattern. Lionel and the one for whom we search are one flesh and blood, so... we just have to search for the similar DNA pattern. All I needed was a piece of him. I wanted to find a piece of her, but it was so clean there... not a hair on the comb. And besides, if time travelling is so developed in 2018, I'm almost certain that young Miss Temple was kidnapped and taken either back or forward in time".

"How do you know?"

"Look". The TARDIS scanner showed a sight of Earth surrounded by artificial satellites. "There are sixteen of them which limit the scope of time travelling. I guess it's narrowed down to some days, if they are sensible... though you and me know that even a few hours - what am I talking about, minutes! - can change the whole course of history". The TARDIS beeped and chirped. "I just knew it. One of those satellites was broken some days ago, and I guess it was not an accident. Someone was truly eager to kidnap Miss Temple".

"That makes sense", Jamie mused. "But who would need her? And why? Her room is not a lab in which some panacea stuff or else could be developed".

"This is why we are going to track the DNA pattern down". The Doctor placed a thick black hair which curled up in a circle onto the TARDIS panel. "Waiting some minutes, and..." His eyes suddenly widened until they occupied half of his face. "No, no, no. That's not even possible! I agree that the course of history could've been changed, but not till this limit!"

"What?.."

"I guess we have more than just a kidnapped girl to seek for".