Inspired by 'Wartime', and takes place after 'The Time Monster'. I do not own Doctor Who.
Lost Boy
Chapter 1
The Brigadier stopped in his tracks, hovering behind a tree as Sergeant Benton turned to face a small grave.
"Hello there, Chris," he said softly. "It's been a long time."
Alastair turned back quickly, not wanting to intrude on what was obviously a very private moment for the young man. He began the walk back to the field where they had positioned their mobile HQ, considering what he had seen. It was only just dawning on the Brigadier that Sergeant Benton was a bit of a mysterious character. Nobody really knew much about him. His UNIT personnel file gave the basic information, but was conspicuously lacking in detail.
He had a sister, that much was known only because she was listed as his next of kin. He grew up less than a mile away from where they were standing… apart from that, he knew nothing. If Alastair hadn't taken the time to look it up, he would not even know that he was called John.
Sergeant Benton sighed in annoyance as he filled in another UNIT form. It was just his luck to land admin duty when a stack of paperwork had just arrived. Yet again he wished he was out on the field, but instead he was stuck there until five o'clock.
"Having fun?"
He looked up to glower at Captain Yates. Mike was also wearing the red cord of the administration department, but he wasn't tied to a desk.
"Hello there sir," he said, a small amount of bitterness seeping into his words. Mike frowned.
"There's no need to be like that, I came to relieve you. The Doctor has 'requested' some coffee. I offered to make it, obviously, but um... the Brig told me to send you over. I'm to finish your paperwork."
Benton laughed at the annoyance on the captain's face. Mike hated paperwork.
"Brigadier been up all night then?" he asked, grinning.
"It would seem so," said Mike.
"He only specifically requests my coffee when he's desperate. Either that or The Doc's getting on his nerves again."
Mike chuckled and waved Benton away, taking his seat and picking up his pen.
"Go on, go and enjoy yourself making that coffee, just... bring me a cup too, will you?"
"Yes sir."
Benton left the room, grinning broadly. 'Tea duty' was a job not many UNIT men relished, but Benton always found it enjoyable. He found making coffee to be very therapeutic, and his mother had taught him long ago how to make the perfect cup.
A few minutes later he knocked on the door of the lab, the final four coffee cups balanced on a tray.
"Come in," called the Doctor and he pushed the door open to find Jo, the Doc, and the Brigadier huddled around a strange device.
"Ah, Benton," said the Brigadier, taking one of the cups. "Thank you very much."
Benton nodded, and gave a cup to the Doctor and Jo, before taking the last one for himself.
"That's a funny looking thing, Doc," he said, nodding his head towards the wiry device. The Doctor threw him a scathing look.
"That, Sergeant Benton," he said icily. "Is a Psychic Resonator. There have been a few strange reports from the north of the country recently..."
"Doctor," said the Brigadier. "I'm telling you again, man, it's all nonsense! Those locals were probably drunk, or deluded, or even just very highly superstitious."
"Ah," said the Doctor. "But my equipment says otherwise. You should never disregard a psychic pulse, Brigadier. Something's going on out there. I can feel it from here, it's like someone's messing around with time streams."
"Time streams?" asked Benton in alarm. "Isn't that dangerous?"
"Sometimes," said the Doctor, prodding at his device. "But it doesn't seem to be particularly turbulent at the moment. For now it's probably just psychic projections, which would fit the reports of ghosts."
"Now see hear, Doctor," interrupted the Brigadier. "There's no such thing as ghosts."
"Not ghosts in the way that you're thinking," said the Doctor. "Places and structures can hold psychic memories, which can occasionally manifest as apparitions. If the energy is enough, however…"
But he was interrupted once again by the Brigadier, who had already lost track of the Doctor's explanation. Benton rolled his eyes and picked up his coffee, as the bickering became more heated. As he left the lab, Jo slipped out after him and he smiled at her.
"How are you, Miss Grant," he asked.
"I'm well thanks," she replied amicably. "But the Doctor and Brigadier have been arguing all day, and it gets... well..."
"I understand, Miss," said Benton. "It's a bit much."
"Yes," she said. "But the Doctor's worried, you know. Really worried. He's trying to persuade the Brigadier that UNIT needs to go to Yorkshire to investigate."
"That would be nice," said Benton. "Yorkshire's lovely. Where abouts?"
"A small town called Little Stockbridge."
Benton choked on his coffee.
"You've heard of it?" asked Jo.
"I'll say," gasped Benton. "I grew up there, Miss."
"Really?"
"Aye. Not sure I'll be willing to go back, mind."
"Why ever not? Don't you have family up there?"
"Not anymore, Miss. You... you won't tell anyone, will you?"
She nodded in understanding.
"Alright, Sergeant," she said. "I won't say a word."
"Thank you. Well, this is me. I left Captain Yates doing the paperwork."
"Alright then. I'll see you later."
"Goodbye, Miss."
He opened the office door, to find Mike still at the desk.
"Ah, Benton," grinned Mike. "Thank God you're back. My hand was hurting."
Benton laughed. Mike got up, and Benton sat back down.
"You've got a good lot done though, sir. Thanks."
"Don't mention it, but I had a little bit of an issue with..."
He door was thrown open abruptly, causing Mike to leap back as the Brigadier stormed into the office.
"Alright," he snapped. "The Doctor is insisting we go to Yorkshire, of all places, to sort out something strange that he can't explain because I 'won't possibly understand'. We leave for Little Stockbridge in an hour. Benton, the records say you're from thereabouts, be ready to get going. Captain Yates, you will also be accompanying us. Any questions? No, good. Carry on."
The door slammed shut, leaving the two UNIT men staring after him in shock.
"Well," said Mike. "He's in a bad mood."
Benton nodded, his heart sinking as he laid down his pen. Looked like he was going home after all.
