This is the first in a new series called "The Timelord and the Shaolin" It's an AU/Crossover of Doctor Who and Kung Fu The Legend Continues. The only character in this series that I own is Serena Caine. The first story, "This Time", more or less explains her reason for travelling with the Doctor. More about her will come to light in future stories. In This Universe, Rose died at the Battle of Canary Wharf and the Doctor has not let his grief be expressed.
This Time
by
Sabrina Lonewalker
The Doctor was watching the monitor on the TARDIS console and shook his head. "No," he said, "Not going to let this happen twice, she can't take it if it happens again." A voice floated across the control room, "Let what happen again?" She was tall, almost as tall as he was and her honey blond hair spilled to her waist. Her eyes were what always got his attention. They were a curious mix of green and hazel, very arresting.
He smiled, "I have to go back, prevent this catastrophe from happening." She looked at the monitor and gasped, "But that's...that's..." Her voice failed her and she looked at him. His face was sad, "Yes, that's your father and little brother. You know what happened the first time we were here, you saw it."
Serena Caine nodded. "I know but, why come back, why change things?" The Doctor turned to look at her. "Because, it orginally was not supposed to happen that way." Her eyes widened, "It wasn't?" "No," he told her, turning back to the console. He talked as he flipped switches, spun dials then, reached for the main control lever.
"What happened to you was meant to be and I interfered. That's why you cannot go home. It would bring the raptors down on us. Besides..." His own voice trailed off and Serena smiled, "Because I shoved my little brother out of the way of that runaway truck, sacrificing myself because I saw something in him, something that needed to be saved."
The Doctor smiled, his dark brown eyes sparkling. "Correct, however, Master Dao saw it as well and was determined to end your family line. Can't let that happen. You see, if I...we don't intervene, your brother will die and if that happens..." Serena nodded again, "My father would wander the earth forever, never fulfilling his destiny and all the good Peter will do, would never be."
The Doctor nodded and pulled the lever. The familiar wheezing, groaning sound began and soon, it was that dark, quiet night. Serena looked at her friend, "How can I help? I'm not even supposed to be here." The Doctor grinned, almost like a small child. "You are going to be Peter's guardian angel. You remember that white dress I showed you?" She nodded. "Go put it on then leave the rest to me. Go, and come back here."
She ran off and while she was gone, the Doctor set the TARDIS down just next to the koi pond in a side room. He checked the monitor and, sure enough, the young lad was there, trailing his hand in the water. He then heard movement and turned. Even after travelling with him for eight years, Serena Kiyoto Caine was still able to take his breath away. How she had grown from the frightened but brave 10 year old girl she had been. Her hair spilled down her back in a golden aurole.
He smiled, "Ok, now listen, when I open these doors, a little of the vortex is going to spill out just enough to surround you and obscure the TARDIS. Warn him then, 'disappear' by stepping backwards. Don't let him get a good look at your face." Serena frowned, "What would be wrong with him seeing that his sister became his guardian angel? Wouldn't he heed the warning better if he knew it was me?"
The Doctor thought for a moment and then realized she was right but then, she had a sense of these things that he didn't. "Ok, but, we cannot stay long." "That I understand, Doctor." She took a deep breath then, "I'm ready." He nodded and unlocked the TARDIS doors. Then, a few wisps from the time vortex surrounded her. The doors opened.
Peter Caine was restless this night. The twelve year old could 'feel' that something wasn't right but, he couldn't give his fears voice. "Peter." He heard the woman's voice behind him and turned sharply. He gasped. She was beautiful, all in white with her blonde hair spilling down her back. Golden wisps of light surrounded her. Then, he looked into her eyes and his widened. "Serena?" "Hello, little brother."
Peter got up but, she held up a hand, "No, you cannot touch me. I came to warn you and Father. I've been watching over you both, you know." The Doctor was watching on the monitor and smiled, she was really doing this very well. She wasn't actually lying to him. "Peter, Master Dao will be back soon, before sunrise, with men. He wants to destroy this place and kill Father. You must warn them. I cannot stay. Please, go, and tell him..tell him I love him."
She stepped back and, in Peter's eyes, disappeared into that golden yellow light. Peter sprinted for his father's room. Serena, back inside the TARDIS, looked at the Doctor. He said nothing, just walked over to her and pulled her to him, letting her cry on his shoulder. He just held her, like he had when she started having nightmares after she had witnessed the first time they saw the temple attacked. She had seen her younger brother's death then and her reaction was what had decided the Doctor.
He had also checked the timeline records and found that Peter was not destined to die then so, he decided to interfere. He had followed the timeline if Peter had died and had seen the lives that would never be touched, never be changed for the better. The only life that would have ended way too soon was Kermit Griffin. The Doctor had seen how Peter's influence would change the hardened mercenary back into the loving, caring man he had started out to be. Without Peter Caine's influence, Kermit would commit suicide after the murder of his younger brother, David.
Serena finally raised her head from her friend's shoulder. "Thank you." His eyebrows went up, "For what?" He asked. She smiled, a shy, grown up smile. "For not asking stupid questions." He grinned, "Oh, you mean, like, are you all right and that rubbish?" She smiled, "Exactly. You know when not to ask. I like that." He smiled back at her. "Now, we need to leave," He said. "We've done what we came to do. The rest is up to them."
Serena nodded. She watched the monitor as the Doctor pulled the control lever. They faded away but didn't go too far. He wanted her to see this, maybe it would end the nightmares. It hurt him when those happened to her. It hurt him to hear her screaming in such terror. She would cling to him then, her body trembling as he tried to soothe her fears. Then, she would finally fall asleep again, this time from sheer exhaustion. She never knew it but, on those nights, he would stay there, sitting in a chair close to her bed in case she awoke again. He would leave just before she awoke.
They watched the attack on the temple but, this time, Peter lived, in fact, he ended up saving several of the smaller children. She watched as Ping Hai helped him out of the rubble. Then, when Ping Hai seperated father and son, Serena turned to her friend. "Why?" The Doctor smiled, "To keep them both safe from Dao. This way, Peter can grow up in peace, safety and find a family that will love him."
"What about my father?" The Doctor frowned a bit, "He will mourn and he will wander but, I can tell you this, they will find each other again and rebuild their relationship. It will be hard but, it will happen." Serena nodded, her face quiet. "What is it, Serena?" He asked softly. "They will never be able to know about me, will they?" The Doctor's eyes were sad, "No, your 'death' was too public, too well publiczed for you to tell anyone, even them, that you're still alive, I am sorry." She could tell, he meant that.
Serena nodded, "As long as they are all right, I can live with that. Can we check up on them, once in awhile?" The Doctor smiled and kissed her forehead. "Of course we can," he said, his voice a lot softer than it usually was. Serena looked at him and, taking him completely by surprise, leaned over and gently kissed his lips then, she was gone to change and go to her meditation space as she called it.
The Doctor blinked for a few seconds and let himself think about things he had not allowed himself to feel in a very long time. Things he had barely begun feeling when Rose died at the Battle of Canary Wharf. As he pulled the control lever to spin them back into time and space he thought to himself, "Maybe it's time to start again or, at least, to try to." The TARDIS began to sing.
TBC
