"What's she doing?" Sky gazed out the attic window as Sarah Jane worked at her computer. She had articles to write, and these bills didn't pay for themselves! Oh, Luke, I miss you already, she thought, recalling the weekend before when he'd left for university. She was sad to see him go, but K9 was there and he couldn't be left on his own for long. Another thought nagged at her mind, a friend Luke had mentioned quite often... no. He'd say if anything was happening... wouldn't he? He does feel comfortable telling me or asking me questions... doesn't he?

"Pardon?" Sarah Jane said, still distracted but trying not to let her thoughts spiral into that pit. I've been as good a mother as I could. I've done my best. If I messed up I'll just have to live with it I suppose.

"There's a girl standing in the driveway," Sky explained, still gazing out the window. Now Sarah Jane was curious. She liked being curious, it distracted her from her life. Curious was her favourite way to be when she wasn't celebrating having saved the world once more from her attic in Ealing. When Sarah Jane looked out the window, there was indeed a girl, standing there, staring at something...

"How about we go and ask her," Sarah Jane was already at the door when she spoke, getting her sonic lipstick from her jacket and putting it in her pocket. There probably isn't any danger, but it's better to be safe than sorry she considered all the past times something innocent had turned out to be deadly. Yeah, better safe than sorry, she headed downstairs, sonic in pocket. Sky followed quickly after her, a wide grin on her face. A new girl possibly meant a new friend. Clyde had left for art school and Rani was doing a degree in journalism as well as trying to find an internship to fill the rest of her time. They'd both still be around, but who could tell how long it'd be until Sky would just be left on her own.

Getting the keys from the side table, Sarah Jane unlocked the thick wooden door. It was one of the reasons she bought the house. The feel of that door reminded her of the TARDIS. Her house was like her TARDIS in a sense, except lodged at one address permanently. I could always redecorate... she considered adding round things to the wall. Nah. Door open, Sky stood close to her as they approached the girl as she stood there, staring.

"Can I help you?" Sarah Jane asked the girl. The girl looked up and blinked, staring into Sarah Jane's eyes. She breathed in deeply through her nose, eyes going to Sky's as she blinked again. Tilting her head to the side, she continued to watch the younger girl. It unnerved Sarah Jane. There was something in her eyes. An emptiness, darkness, deep seething rage burning that refused to be quelled. She looked back to Sarah Jane, blinked and swallowed. Opening and closing her mouth, she tried to familiarise herself with speech once again.

"Yes," the girl said slowly, eyes glinting seriously in concentration. She breathed in deeply again. "Thyme."

"Time?" Sky asked. The girl clicked her fingers, looking around them.

"Thyme, time, I can smell time, that's new," the girl mumbled, staring back at Sarah Jane. Suddenly she grinned widely, stepping back and clapping her hands. "It's you! I think I know you. I should know you. Do I know you?" she tilted her head to the side.

"My name's Sarah Jane Smith," Sarah Jane informed her, skeptical of this new acquaintance.

"Sarah Jane!" the girl exclaimed, leaping back then from foot to foot. "Sarah Jane, Sarah Jane, Sarah Jane..." she murmured to herself, eyes wide in wonder. She paused, blinked again. "Funny, I thought I knew you - ARGH!" She collapsed to the ground, writhing in pain as her skin began to glow. Sarah's eyes widened as she recognised what was happening to the girl.

"Get her inside," Sarah Jane knelt by the girl, Sky following suit, supporting her between them as her face contorted with pain. They could only make it to the front room. Sarah Jane hurriedly closed the curtains, hoping that none of her neighbours were looking through her windows that day.

"What's - happening - to me," the girl managed to say between gritted teeth. She was shaking, her body unable to control it.

"You're regenerating," Sarah explained. "I've seen it before." The girl began to squint as if she was looking through a dirty lens at the world.

"My head," she whispered before falling into unconsciousness, beads of sweat rolling down her face.

"Should we call a doctor?" Sky turned to Sarah Jane. It can't be him. She must be someone else.

"Stay with her," Sarah Jane instructed before heading up stairs. Perhaps Mr Smith can shed some light on this...


a/n: Who is the girl outside? Thoughts? Theories? Hopes? Hopes not?

Have a great day everyone and please review!