Parts Unknown

Set during the fifth season.

Disclaimer: I don't own The Sarah Jane Adventures, the BBC does so I'm not making any profit off of this story and I have no intention of infringing on Copyright laws.

"Why can't we go to Australia?" Rani asked her father while she sat at the breakfast table with both of her parents. "The beaches are beautiful," she said as she took a sip of orange juice and then ate some of her cheese omelet.

"Because the waves get much too high and I know you," Haresh replied. "You'll be out there trying to surf before I can stop you from renting the surfboard."

"What do you mean trying?" Rani argued. "My surfing accident the year before we moved to Ealing wasn't my fault. Besides it's time I got back on the horse."

"No it's not, Darling, lots of people lead rich fulfilling lives without ever having surfed," Gita pointed out. "Besides, wasn't it you who promised me that you would never surf again?"

"Mum, I was a lot smaller back then. I won't ever wipe out that badly again," Rani tried to assure her.

Gita fiddled with her food and exchanged a look with her husband.

Haresh sighed knowing that look very well. He knew if he gave into his daughter that relations with his wife would quickly go downhill. The more he thought it over the more he agreed with his wife. Haresh didn't want to ever go through what he had gone through again when his daughter had nearly drowned and had been badly injured from the surfing accident. "No matter where we go on holiday surfing is off limits." He finished his food.

"But I promise I'll be careful," Rani tried to reason with him.

"Sweetheart, you tried to be careful that day remember?" Gita retorted.

"Actually I still don't remember much about that day," Rani admitted as she finished her breakfast.

"Because you were out cold most of the time, and scared the life out of your father and me." Gita pointed out.

"So if I ever wrecked a car I wouldn't be allowed to drive anymore then?" Rani inquired.

"Rani, it's not the same thing," Haresh said as he rinsed his plate and his fork. He then placed both in the dishwasher before closing it. "You know that as much as I do."

Rani sighed in frustration. "Look I'm sorry I scared you two that day, but you can't protect me from everything." She rinsed her plate and fork off and placed them in the dishwasher.

"Love, you're wasting your time and your breath arguing with us about it. No matter what you say you won't change our minds," Haresh stated.

"Fine," Rani groused. She finished her juice, rinsed the glass out, and placed it in the dishwasher.

Gita rose from her seat and walked over to her husband and daughter. "We're not doing this to be mean."

"I know you're not; I just wished you trusted me is all," Rani said as she headed for the front door.

"We do trust you it's the ocean that we don't trust," Haresh said. "Now where are you off to?"

"I'm just going for a walk. Don't worry I won't do anything rash like cross the street or anything," Rani snapped before she walked out of her house.

Haresh shook his head while he tried to keep from laughing.

"Haresh, don't give into her. Kids have an uncanny ability to make their parents feel guilty with their dramatics," Gita reminded him while she rinsed her dishes off and placed them in the dishwasher.

"Trust me I won't give in. I remember that day very well," he replied.

Gita sighed in relief and wrapped her arms around him. "So where do you want to go on holiday?"

Rani ran into Clyde on her walk and they wound up getting a coffee at one of the local coffee and tea shops. It began to drizzle a little outside so they sat inside to talk and drink their coffees. Rani took a sip of her coffee and then placed the light brown paper cup on the blue table as she sat in a blue chair.

"I don't get why you and your parents have to go away for two weeks anyway," Clyde said with a tinge of sadness in his voice. "You can unwind here. I'll help you."

Rani gently smiled. "Clyde, the two weeks will pass before we know it. Besides my dad wants me to go this year instead of staying home like I always wind up doing. He won't let me get out of it this time because he feels like this will be our last chance to take a vacation as a family since I'll be off to Uni next year."

Please stay, Clyde silently thought. "So," he drank some of his coffee. "Why did you leave your house in a huff anyway?"

"Remember that surfing accident I told you about?" Rani asked.

Clyde nodded. "What of it?"

"My parents still won't let me surf because of it," Rani said.

"Good," Clyde honestly replied and placed his cup down. "You have no business surfing especially when that accident almost killed you."

"And you have no business on a skateboard," Rani chided. "You can wind up wrecking and breaking your neck."

"Point taken," Clyde replied. "But why tempt fate like that? I mean you already were badly hurt in a surfing accident."

"So I can get over fearing something that I used to love," Rani confessed.

Clyde gazed at her for a moment or two. "I see."

"I was just one accident, Clyde; I had surfed plenty of times before that day. I was pretty good at it as well, but my parents weren't the only ones scared over the accident. It's very unsettling to wake up in a hospital bed not remembering how you wound up there in the first place."

"Have you tried telling your parents this?" he inquired.

"They wouldn't understand. Apparently the memory of that day is still very fresh to them," Rani answered. "I mean think about it wouldn't you feel the same way if your kid had been badly injured?"

"I would, but you should still explain it to them exactly the same way you explained it to me," Clyde advised.

Rani hesitated. "They might not listen. I kind of behaved like a brat."

"Then apologize first," Clyde said. "They're still your parents; they're not going to stop loving you."

Rani was about to reply when she suddenly vanished in front of Clyde's eyes.

"What the," Clyde was about to shout out her name when he suddenly vanished seconds later.

-to be continued