A/N OK, so, apparently, according to the book I got for Christmas, it is mentioned in an episode that The Brigadier retired in 1977. Pertwee became Baker in 1974. So. Why did he want to retire when he could have easily have made General? Hmm…. That set me thinking, and I am such a hopeless romantic and I figured he must have got sick of the rules and not being able to see his little girl, who must've been about 8 or 9 by this point right?

Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who. I am now the proud owner of The Silurians episode though

…..

"I beg you're pardon Sir," John Benton said slowly "But I think I must have misheard you."

"You didn't Benton," Brigadier Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart said calmly, sitting back in his chair. "I have handed in all the forms and I will be retired from the Unified Intelligence Taskforce in under a fortnight. It has been in the pipeline for rather a while now, but I didn't want to tell anyone until it had all been approved by Geneva."

"You're…leaving, Sir?"

"Yes, Benton, I am," He moved to pick up a file from his desk "And I am only telling you this far in advance so you can read through your new orders."

"New orders Sir?"

"Is there a parrot in this room or something Benton?" The Brigadier said somewhat sharply, handing the file to the still stunned soldier. "Sergeant Benton, you have been recommended to take over my position as Commanding Officer. I'm afraid it's just an Acting CO position for now, but if you pull your cards right, you could be the new leader of this division."

"You recommended me for a promotion Sir?" Benton asked in disbelief, glancing over his new orders. He had no idea that the gruff, sharp Brigadier thought he would be capable of making commanding officer decisions. "But I'm a non-commissioned officer Sir. I didn't think I was allowed to take the role."

"Technically, you're not," The Brigadier smirked. "But I couldn't think of anyone better suited to the role. I think it will end up with you occupying the same position you currently do, under someone like Yates, but I will be recommending that you be the one to show them how things are done around here. Everyone respects you and trusts your judgement, so while they are searching for a suitable replacement officer, I wanted you to hold the fort."

"Thank you Sir," Benton said in shock. He closed the file and looked the Brigadier, a man he respected and trusted beyond the shadow of a doubt, to ask: "Why are you leaving Sir?"

"Personal reasons," Was the swift and practised reply. Benton just raised a disbelieving eyebrow.

"Come on Sir," He said, "I wouldn't tell a soul and you know it."

The Brigadier seem to consider this, then opened the breast pocket of his jacket to remove a rather crumpled picture. He wordlessly handing it to Benton. It was a picture of a redheaded lady holding onto a squirming six year old blonde, both laughing at whoever was holding the camera.

Benton knew the redhead to be sharp tonged and brilliant. Just the person to stand up to or answer back to the Brigadier whenever he needed it. There had been all sorts of gossip that Benton had been forced to stamp out of the lower ranks about the nature of the relationship between the feisty scientist and their usually so stoic and unmovable Brigadier. Especially when a Private overheard them discussing the Doctor using their first names. It hadn't helped that Benton himself had a private suspicion that they would one day be more than friends.

And the little blonde girl could only be the Brigadier's much adored child. Her easy confidence in Liz's arms suggested that it hadn't been their first meeting and the light in both of the ladies eyes suggested that, behind the camera, was the Brigadier himself.

"Of course Sir," Benton nodded, handing back the picture. "I can't say I'm surpised Sir…but I am confused as to why she would expect you to leave."

"She doesn't know yet," The Brigadier looked over the picture briefly before slotting it back into his pocket. "While she is no longer employed by UNIT, I still feel like I am breaking some of the rules by seeing her as often as I can. And when I started taking Katie, well. She would never ask me to stop doing something I loved. But I realised that, I am in London, and she is in Cambridge. And I hardly ever get to see Katie because of UNIT constraints. Military life is rather a single man's game. And I have a family."

"What will you do, if you don't mind me asking Sir?"

"Well, I have already promised that I will remain in an advisory capacity and I shall be on a government pension so finding a new occupation isn't too pressing. I don't know. I haven't really thought it out yet. I'm sure Liz will have some ideas."

"If you don't mind me saying Sir, she's going to give you a right dressing down when she finds out you did this without asking her," Benton pointed out. He wished he could be a fly on the wall in that conversation.

"Yes," he sighed, running a hand over his face. "I'm telling her tonight actually. Hence, giving you your orders."

"Good luck Sir," Benton said sincerely.

"I think I will be needing it," The Brigadier said wryly with a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Yes, Miss Shaw certainly enjoys making her opinions known. I want you to be working at the paperwork alongside myself for the next week and a half if you don't mind. My job mostly consists of paperwork nowadays. Damn bureaucrats in Geneva."

"Of course Sir," Benton inclined his head and stood up. "It's going to be odd not having you around everyday Sir, I won't lie."

"I'll be here so often it will be like I never went away," He smirked.

"You'll bring Miss Shaw along too, won't you Sir?" Benton said, in his forthright way that completely disguised the hope he felt. He had missed the sardonic and cynical scientist. "Her not visiting since she left in '71 makes much more sense now."

"I don't know if Liz will want to come or not," The Brigadier said non-committedly, rising to offer Benton his hand. "I have enjoyed working with you too Benton, I'm not entirely sure what I will do without UNIT…and should Liz ever agree, which I sincerely doubt, I should like you to stand by me at the alter."

"When she agrees," Benton said, "I promise I will get you to the Church on time."

A/N I love Benton, he is just so awesome. And I think the Brig relies on him so much and they must actually be really good friends but, they're blokes and wouldn't want to admit it. So they don't. And Benton notices everything that is going on, so he really wouldn't be surprised by anything…except perhaps the Brig asking him to be his best man should he ever get married to Liz… tbh, I was a bit shocked when I typed that out. It most certainly was not planned!

I am thinking of doing a second part where Alistair tells Liz that he has retired from UNIT… Hmm, maybe…