LATE FEES

Sometimes returning late is better than not at all…

Martha's grin felt permanently plastered on her face after the Doctor took them to visit the friends she had made in 16th century England. She was so relieved when they left England the first time to return to the safety (and plumbing) of the TARDIS…but there was a part of her that was left wondering what would happen to them after the Doctor so unceremoniously changed their lives forever. She laughed to herself as she strolled down the hallway to the control room. Goodness knows my life has changed forever…I have to wonder what happened to the rest of the people the Doctor has met. Has it made their lives better? Worse?

As she walked into the main room of the TARDIS the first thing she noticed was that it was much too quiet…because the Doctor wasn't there doing his customary piloting dance around the console. She was in too good a mood to get irritated though, and there didn't seem to be any alarms going off, so she plopped herself down in the Captain's seat and swung her heels as she sang to herself, "Where, oh where, has my Doctor gone…oh where, oh where can he be? With his hair cut short and his coat cut long, oh where, oh where can he be…"

"I have to admit, Martha, that I don't think I've been the subject of children's songs for a good…oh, I guess going on three centuries now." The Doctor walked up to the console and leaned against Martha's seat with his glasses perched on the edge of his nose as he flipped through a book in his hands. He snapped it shut with a small cloud of dust and looked up at her with a self-deprecating smile. "That was very sweet, though…usually I'm compared to the Boogeyman."

"Nah…you?" Martha asked in disbelief. "You always try so hard not to hurt people…I couldn't imagine it."

His smile slipped as he gazed sadly into her eyes, and Martha could tell that their joking had suddenly taken a darker turn. She drew a breath and was about to try and comfort him when he sniffed and scratched the side of his head, breaking their eye contact. "Well…even I can learn from my mistakes…eventually." He set the book beside Martha on her chair and turned to the console to begin programming in their next destination.

She brushed the dust off the cover of the book and took a look at it. "Doctor Who Discovers Historical Mysteries?" She traced the image of the TARDIS on the front of the book as she looked up at him in wonder. "You never told me you were a writer, too!"

"One of my many talents, Doctor Jones," he said with a comical wink at her. "Though mind you…finishing that one cost me no end of trouble; turning Princes into playwrights, playwrights into martyrs, companions into Princes and back again."

"Amazing…" Martha muttered. "Can I read it?"

The Doctor winced as he tugged at his ear. "I've got to return that one, actually…but there's tons of great books where we're going."

"Oh," she replied in disappointment. "Wait a minute…great books? Where are we going, then?" The TARDIS thumped hard in landing and Martha rocked back against the Captain's chair.

"Where are we now, you mean?" He asked with a smile as he walked around the console and grabbed his coat from the railing. "The Great Library Planet of Biblios, repository to all of the Universe's knowledge!" He flung open the doors and Martha gaped at what she saw: rows upon rows of books going on to the horizon.

"Oh…my…God!" Martha whispered as she stepped out of the TARDIS and stared wide eyed at more books than she had ever seen in her life. "And I thought the British Library was big…"

"You haven't seen anything yet," The Doctor said as he locked the TARDIS door and flung an arm around her shoulders. "This is just part of the Reference Section! Shall we go find the Main Desk?"

"Lets!" Martha said with a smile as they walked down the aisle.

"This is all so amazing, Doctor!" Martha exclaimed as she ran her fingers across the book spines and adeptly pulled one out from the shelf to read the title: "Zen and the Art of Teleporter Maintenance."

"Every book in existence can be found on this planet, Martha," the Doctor said as he spread his arms wide, "from Doctor Seuss to Doctor Who."

"And just why did you use that name, anyway? I mean…I can imagine you being called that so many times that you must get tired of it: Doctor? Doctor who, then?" Martha wondered out loud as she replaced the book on the shelf.

"Well…have to fault the publisher on that one," the Doctor explained as he tugged at his ear. "It was supposed to be 'The Doctor, Who Explores Historical Mysteries.' One typo later, however, the comma was gone and it became what you see there."

"I like it," Martha said with a smile as she placed her hand in his to give it a squeeze, "It gives you an air of mystery."

"I'm sure Perpugilliam would've agreed with you…" the Doctor replied.

"Who?"

"Ahh…Perpugilliam Brown…'Peri' for short. She was quite the able companion…first one from America I ever had too," he said wistfully.

"What happened to her?" Martha asked tentively. She knew the past was a touchy subject for the Doctor…but she'd found that if she timed it right, he was more than willing to talk.

"She became Queen of Thoros Alpha for awhile," he said as he removed his hand from hers and stuffed them into his coat pockets as he walked ahead. "Yrcanos was a good husband for a warrior king…but eventually I helped her get home where she lived out her life, I imagine."

"You never checked up on her?" Martha asked sadly.

"It's not like that, Martha," he sighed as he ran his hand through his hair and stopped to turn around. "Things were complicated, and in the end…I think she'd be happier if she never saw me again."

Martha sighed in disappointment. "That's a shame…I was kind of hoping I could meet some of your past companions someday." A worried look crossed his face and she continued quickly, "I realize I'm just the current companion in what must be a loooong list, Doctor. I mean, you've been around for over 900 years, right?" She gestured wildly with her hands and then shrugged. "I don't know…I was just thinking it would be a great way to get to know you…and to have somebody to talk to, I guess."

The Doctor dropped his hand and walked up to Martha to place his hands on her shoulders and squeeze them gently. She looked up shyly and continued, "You're not always the easiest person to live with, you know…and as much as I love the TARDIS, she can't share a pint of ice cream with me while we watch sappy movies."

"I know…and I've counted my blessings that you've stayed with me this long, Martha," he said with a half-smile. "Tell you what…after we finish up here, we'll go visit some of them, eh? At least…the ones who aren't angry with me, anyway…might just end up being Sarah Jane in the end…but…"

"Oh thank you!" Martha exclaimed in joy as she hugged him tight.

After a moment's shock he smiled in return and wrapped her in a bear hug. "You realize you're the only one I've done this intentionally for, right?" he joked as he leaned back to look at her. "I figure if you've got others to talk to you won't always be going after me with the questions!"

"Oh…you!" Martha muttered with a laugh as she thumped him in the shoulder.

He laughed as took a step back and grasped her hand in his. "In all seriousness, Martha…never stop asking. In fact…that's part of the reason why we're here."

"To answer my questions?"

"Yup!" he answered with a smack of his lips. "All modesty aside, somewhere around here is an aisle of books dedicated to the past adventures of yours truly…and I thought you might like a look-see."

"Really?" Martha squeaked out in surprise as her eyes widened at the thought of access to the Doctor's so secretive past. "You...you really don't mind?"

He smiled as he reached up his right hand and cupped her cheek gently. "You've saved my life numerous times, Martha…the least I could do to say thanks is let you learn about it."

"Now hang on a tick," Martha said as they finally came within sight of one of the library's many information desks. "You said that was part of the reason why we're here…what's the other part?"

"Um…would you believe late fees?" The Doctor replied with an embarrassed grin. Martha looked at him incredulously and he continued hurriedly, "It's not my fault! One of my previous regenerations checked my book out, and after all the trouble I had regenerating into this form I was lucky I knew who I was, let alone that I had a library book overdue."

"And just how late is this book?" Martha asked as they walked up to the desk and the Doctor passed the book over a scanner embedded in it's surface.

Suddenly there was a loud beeping noise and a flashing red light that reminded her of police cars raised up out of the desk. "Subject is returning a book that is 35 years overdue…please remain while the Librarian comes to organize terms of payment for late fees…"

"What?" exclaimed the Doctor in a huff. "Oh come on…it's not my fault!" He slapped his hands to his sides and looked around to see if anyone was coming before leaning over to his companion. "This may take a while, Martha. You might want to go on and start reading without me while I settle up."

"You sure?" she asked doubtfully, unsure what kind of fines a library planet might extract from him.

"You remember what happened the last time I let these things go…I for one don't want to end up in an ice prison again."

"Point taken, Doctor. So how do I find the right section?"

"Hand me your screwdriver…" Martha pulled it out of her inside jacket pocket and handed it over. He took the screwdriver and placed it into a socket in the desk and started to quickly type his search into the library's search function. Soon information came spooling across the screen and he pulled the screwdriver out with a flourish. "There we go! Start down that way," he pointed down an aisle to his left, " and follow the beeping from your screwdriver. It'll beep faster as you get closer to the correct section. I'll come find you as soon as I'm done here."

Martha took the screwdriver and put it in her front pocket. "Okay…but if you get into deep trouble…"

"You'll be the first person I call," he said with a smile as he tapped his temple lightly.

There was a whirring noise from behind the information desk and then a robotic figure rose out from the floor. "Welcome, Doctor. It has certainly been a long time since we've seen you last. If you would like to follow me, we'll go to our main desk and see what we can do to clear up this unfortunate circumstance." The robot gestured behind him and he and the Doctor began to walk down the aisle. "I'll be back before you know it, Martha," he called out as he waved. "Just…if you read about my 6th incarnation…be forgiving…I wasn't quite at my best back then."

"All right, then…" Martha said to herself as she watched the Doctor disappear into the distance. She took her screwdriver out of her pocket and turned it on to hear the soft beeping as she walked down the aisle to the left. "Let's see what we can find…"

After twenty minutes of incessant beeping Martha finally was able to look with satisfaction and a bit of amazement at the library's extensive collection of Doctor Who adventures. "Whew! Where to start?" she asked herself as she put her hands on her hips and stared at the shelves. "It's a good thing med school taught me to be a speed reader."

She ran her fingers along the books and skimmed some of the titles: The Android Invasion…The Ark in Space…The Face of Evil…Earthshock…The Last Dodo. Wait a minute…The Last Dodo? She shivered as she remembered the adventure she and the Doctor went on when they visited MOTLO and she saw the dodo for the first time. Did they actually write a book about that already? How'd they…her fingers hovered over the book in curiosity and just a little bit of fear. No…I don't want to know…life is always better than the book, anyway.

She continued skimming the titles until she came to one that especially drew her eye: The Dalek Invasion of Earth. A chill went down Martha's spine as she remembered her encounter with the Daleks in New York…and that was just three of them. Did they invade Earth in force? Did the Doctor stop it, or… she shuddered and she pulled down the book to sit at a table and begin to read:

A disheveled man wearing a strange helmet walked jerkily along the ruined landscape until he ripped his helmet off with a shrill scream…

"You do realize that the Doctor who checked that book out has been dead for years, right? By my reckoning you lot should be happy that I managed to bring the book back at all," the Doctor complained as he leaned against the large main desk of the library. The robot who had escorted him had disappeared back into the floor and now he was pleading his case to the head librarian, a blue skinned and multi-armed female who had most of them crossed as she looked at him sternly.

"You've been a patron of our library for over 300 years, Doctor…you should know by now that regeneration is not an escape clause here on Biblios. We have detailed procedures for when a patron dies while their books are checked out."

"Yes, I know…the book was beeping at me like the Road Runner, but not until I found it buried in the Chrysanthemums in my garden…which is what I've been trying to explain: when I regenerate my ship changes…so not only did I completely forget that I had checked out a book, but my ship hid it from me!"

The head librarian sighed as one of her arms reached over to her computer and began typing while two others flipped open the book to stamp it. She looked over to her computer before turning back to the Doctor. "I understand your problem, new bodies can take a lot out of a creature. When I look at your records, however….you have accumulated a total of 250 counts of evading library fines. I'm afraid your past history just can't be overlooked…no matter how many incarnations you've gone through.

The Doctor ran his hand through his hair in consternation. "There has to be something I can do to settle things…"

The librarian scratched her chin with one of her hands while two of them crossed over her chest and one of them caressed the cover of his book. "I think I may have a proposal for you, Doctor…"

Martha gnawed at her lower lip as she shifted in her chair to get more comfortable, and totally lost track of time as she bent over the book and continued reading:

Ian and Barbara watched the TARDIS scanner in silence. They both had witnessed the burgeoning relationship between David and the Doctor's granddaughter…but none had dared talk of it for fear that it would upset the Doctor and distract him from their struggle against the Daleks. Barbara looked to Ian worriedly as he squeezed her hand gently to comfort her. Suddenly the Doctor sprang to life and flipped a switch on the console that closed and locked the TARDIS doors. Barbara turned to the Doctor and was about to ask him what he thought he was doing…when Ian tugged at her hand. She turned to him and he shook his head briefly. "This needs to happen, darling," he whispered as he pulled her into a hug. Barbara wiped the tears from her eyes as she heard the surprised Susan calling out to the Doctor over the speakers.

"Grandfather…what are you doing? Let me in!"

They watched as the Doctor sighed and hunched his shoulders. For the first time in their travels with him, they could see the toll of long years in his face. He pressed a button on the console and began to speak over the loudspeaker system as he watched her on the scanner.

"You are a grown woman now, my dear Susan. Long have we taken care of each other…but you can never find your own future if you're constantly tied down to take care of me. You have someone new who wishes to take care of you…and you of him, I imagine. I vow, Susan…one day I shall come back. Until then there must be no tears, no regrets, no anxieties. You must go forward in all your beliefs…and prove to me that I am not mistaken in mine." He sighed deeply before he continued. "Goodbye, my darling Susan…my granddaughter." He pulled the dematerialization switch of the TARDIS with heavy hearts and without a word walked out of the console room deep into the heart of the TARDIS.

Susan looked forlornly at the empty space where the TARDIS had been, her key held limply in her hand. She gazed anxiously at the skies for any sign of the police box…but there was nothing there but clouds. David walked up behind her and gently offered her his hand.

"He knew you could never leave him willingly, Susan…so he had to make the hard choice for the both of you. He loved you so much that he had to let you go so you could live your life on your own terms."

With a sigh of resignation she dropped her hands to her sides, her key falling forgotten to the ground. "You're right. My travels are over…because I'm home now." She turned to him and placed her hand in his as they walked away together.

"Oh God, Doctor…" Martha cried out before she placed her hand over her mouth and looked around to make sure that she wasn't being too loud. She wiped the tears from her face as she re-read the last page. I never knew you were a grandfather, let alone a father! She sat back in her chair and came to a realization. Is she still alive…or did she die when Gallifrey…oh Doctor…no wonder you've been picking up Companions ever since. She took a deep breath as she closed the book with reverence and stood up to place it back on the shelf.

"Are they all like this, Doctor?" she wondered forlornly as she looked at the rows of books and ran her hand over the spines as if trying to feel the emotions pouring out of each one. "How many times have you picked us up to fill that empty hole in your hearts…only to have to let us go?" The tears began anew as she leaned her forehead against the books. "Did you feel the same when I said goodbye?"

The Doctor's legs gave out beneath him as his mind was overcome with Martha's unexpected waves of sorrow. He closed his eyes in pain as he leaned against the desk for support. "I-I'm sorry…could you repeat that?" he muttered.

The librarian looked at him in concern. "Perhaps we should take a seat and discuss this further. Are you all right? I can ask one of the androids to get you some refreshment…"

"A chair would be good…" he bit out as he stumbled backwards and reached out blindly to catch at one of the chairs behind him. He pulled out the chair and flopped into the seat as he held his head in his hands. I should've known she'd go straight to the heart of the matter. Over 900 years of adventures to read about, and she had to pick one of the most painful ones. He sighed deeply as the librarian took a seat at the table across from him. No, Martha…I didn't feel the same when you said goodbye…I felt worse. He rubbed the bridge of his nose with his fingers and did his best to focus again on the librarian.

"As I was saying, Doctor…I have a proposition that I think will fulfill all of our obligations satisfactorily. " She flipped open the Doctor's book to look at the publishing company on the inside cover. "As you well know, Doctor…the Megalonic Publishing Company is a major contributor to the collection here at Biblios. I believe you had dealings with them when you were contracted to write your series of 'Doctor Who Discovers…' books."

"Indeed I did. Not exactly by my choice, though. After that whole mess with the Loch Ness Monster swimming up the Thames it was kind of hard not to be noticed by the masses…and thus my privacy paid the price and I became an author." Sudden realization of where the conversation was heading struck the Doctor and he looked at the librarian with wide eyes. "Wait a minute…you're not proposing that…"

"That you fulfill your obligations to Biblios and take care of your outstanding fines by taking another contract with Megalonic to grace our shelves with more books? What an excellent idea, Doctor…I accept!" the librarian said with a pleased smile as two of her hands slapped the table and one of her right hands reached out to shake with the Doctor.

"There's no telling what any of these will be like…I guess I'll just have to pick one," Martha said to herself as she scanned the books. She closed her eyes and ran her fingers over them as she whispered, "And my mother told me to pick the very best…one!" She opened her eyes to pull out the book that her hand was touching: The Invasion of Time. "Oh great…another invasion!" she muttered as she sat down to begin reading:

Two ships floated close to each other in the darkness of space. In one stands the Doctor, his curly haired head attentive to three occupied thrones in the shadows.

"The time has come, Doctor…you have been fully prepared for our plans. Now you must sign the document that gives you full power over all of the Time Lords…"