"I really don't think we even needed to take the car." Drea climbs out once the mint green contraption is safely secured within the confines of the driveway. "Could have went for a run." She teases, "Do that enough as it is." The taller woman looks up at the large house, then down to her companion, "You alright?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?" Sarah Jane nods, walking past her to the front door, using her key to enter, "Quickly, come inside."
Years since Drea has stepped foot into this old house on 13 Bannerman Road. Bittersweet, mostly. She grins broadly, tears dampen her eyes. "Lovely home you have." The taller woman nods, quickly moving to the collection of photographs, both hung on walls and propped up in frames on tables. "Are these your children?"
"Yes...Luke and Sky. Incredibly intelligent." She secures the front door, removing her jacket, "May I take your coat, Ms. Jones?"
"Please, call me Drea, and yes. That would be great." Drea quickly slides off her jacket, the same shade of sable as her riding boots. "Tell me, Ms. Smith, have you ever encountered anything like what we observed out there?"
"No, not really. What about you?"
"I mean, there's phantoms, but they only ever take on the shape of people we know."
"And then scream when we figure them out not to be real. These can't even be seen, which is why I don't believe them to be as such" Sarah Jane nods, "And please, call me Sarah Jane. It's a lot simpler." She motions to the stairs, "Care to join me upstairs?"
"My, my, Sarah Jane, you didn't even buy me dinner first." Drea grins, jogging past her and bounding up the stairs, skipping a step with each stride. Her long legs able to do so. "Have you tried calling anyone?"
"Not yet." She removes her slim mobile phone from her pocket, dialing her son.
"Really? Haven't you gotten an upgrade yet?" The younger woman teases, "Though, as many times as I've broken this phone, I could very easily have used the money to make a mobile phone that could be implanted somehow."
Sarah Jane nods as they reach the top step, "Please, be careful. There is a lot of sensitive equipment." She closes the phone.
"I can tell." Drea takes in the surroundings, "Nothing is changed." She mumbles to herself, "Able to reach anyone?"
"Of course not and it isn't going to voice mail either." She closes the door to the attic, walking down the stairs, "Mister Smith, I need you." The grand fanfare of smoke and lights begin as the large, wall mounted computer opens, bringing a soft smile to her face. She's surprised the young woman isn't the slightest bit impressed, almost as if she expected the machine to do what it did.
"I see we have a guest. Would you like for me to scan them?" The large computer asks.
Sarah Jane glances over, "Drea, would you mind?"
"No, I don't mind at all." Drea grins, walking to the exact spot where she needed to be, letting the light wash over her. "You'll always question me though. Since Ruby White was able to get away with it...what if I have a bio damper?" When she notices the other woman smile more, "Mister Smith, would you be a dear and give me two glass slides, please? With covers."
"Yes, of course, Ms. Smith." The computer responds, providing what was requested through a small slot.
Sarah Jane furrows her brow slightly, "Mister Smith, this is Ms. Jones...not Smith. In fact, I never offered you a name for her."
"I do apologize."
Drea removes a red pocket knife from her boot, flipping it open to reveal the blade, "Sarah Jane, would you mind joining me with this? You are cautious with me, but there's no reason why I shouldn't be cautious with you." She quickly slides the pad of her index finger over the sharp blade, dripping the blood onto the slide. She hisses, bringing her finger to her mouth to suck on, "Mister Smith can do a blood analysis. It would prevent either one of us from using a bio damper or anything else to disguise our heritage." She wipes the blade on her shirt, the slight deposit making no visual impact on the black colored fabric. She offers the pocket knife to the other woman, "I know this is your home and I'm questioning you in your own home, but I've been fooled before."
Sarah Jane nods, "I'm just not crazy with the whole blood letting thing." She slowly takes the pocket knife from the younger woman.
Drea shrugs, "It's the only way we can be absolutely sure. If you don't want to do it, I'll have to try and take your word for it." She places the cover on the slide before placing it on top of the cut pilar, turned Mister Smith scanner, "Mister Smith, scan this for antibodies often found within human blood."
The smaller woman remains impressed with the other, "Self maiming." She mumbles to herself, "I'm not a fan of violence...especially when I'm the one perpetrating it on myself." She pouts slightly.
She removes her finger from her mouth for a moment, "Then don't do it." She places it back in.
Sarah Jane sighs, quickly cutting her finger and placing a drop of her blood onto the slide, following the same process the younger woman just did, "That hurt more than I thought it would."
"Things usually do." Drea takes the pocket knife back when it's offered to her, wiping it off onto her shirt before closing it and sliding the red metal back into her boot. She lowers herself to the step. "I don't want to doubt you, Sarah Jane. I really don't."
"Do you ever just want to sit around and do nothing here? The Tardis is a very impressive ship, Doctor. It feels like home to me, believe it or not. However, it is also very large. Is there ever a time you forget exactly what it looks like?" Sarah Jane pulled her knees up to her chest as she sat on the cold metal floor, appearing more as a child than the young woman she actually was. Her small frame usually the cause.
"I can change it all at will, Sarah. If you would like something else, I am able to make that happen...your own individual quarters, if you wish." The Doctor picked his head up from his gaze upon the center console, dressed in an unusually casual outfit.
"Oh, No. Nothing of the sort. I'm comfortable with my surroundings." She offered him a smile, "Are you uncomfortable, Doctor?"
He smirked, "No...quite the opposite, actually."
"Good." Sarah Jane blushed, finally rising from the floor with little effort. She stepped closer, folding her arms over her chest. Her large sweater covered her small frame, riding boots pulled up just below her knee. Not necessarily the most fashionable, but comfortable.
The Doctor reached a hand over, taking her by surprise as he gently touched her forearm. "Whatever you could possibly dream of, Sarah. Simply say the word."
"Andrea." Mister Smith calls out, the ribbons of color swirling around the large screen, "Miss Jones."
Sarah Jane picks her head up, glancing to the door before walking over to the computer, "Mister Smith, have you discovered something?"
"Yes, I have, Sarah Jane." His robotic voice echoes throughout the small attic. However, he doesn't continue on, his answers short and simple. The Xyloc was familiar with both of the women in the way that only his race are able to be, the only constant through all of the possible alternative timelines.
"Well, tell me. Can't you?" She places her arms at her sides, "Is Andrea Jones a human?"
"Human antibodies are present in Miss Jones' blood." He knows better than to reveal too much, not wanting to ruin the balance of the time.
"Couldn't wait a few minutes for me to return from the toilet?" Drea's arms are folded as she leans against the door frame, a smirk painted on her face.
"Ten minutes in the loo? I thought you had run away." Sarah Jane doesn't turn to face her. The knowledge of the young woman even more questionable now more than ever. She tilts her head to the side, seeing the young woman with her peripheral vision.
"Can't get rid of me that easily." She can feel the tension building, and simply sighs, biting her bottom lip, "I..." She laughs softly to herself, walking in more, "I can't do this." Her tone soft, complying. "You should know more than anyone that no one is fully human. Not anyone."
She does know that. So many human-like races in the universe, it was inevitable that they would be cohabitation at some point, being able to fit in so well. Sarah Jane nods, "Mister Smith shows allegiance to you...like he knows you."
"I studied the Xylok race...as a hobby, one summer." Drea smiles softly, "There wasn't much known about them other than the ability to live hundreds of millions of years at the time. However, a few friends of mine helped out...the Xylok share the same knowledge through all alternative timelines. Doesn't matter what's happening, or...the surroundings...They remember all the people, all of the children, all the loves and they're able to keep them all straight...everything. K-9 as well."
"You're from another time period." Sarah Jane vocalizes her thoughts softly..
"Well, to me, you are." Drea nods, moving to stand next to her, "Mister Smith, the rest."
"But...Andrea..." The super-computer tries.
She stands silently for a moment, unsure herself, "Sarah Jane, if you never want to speak to me again, know that i has been both a pleasure and a gift to work with you...and I'd completely understand whatever your decision." The taller woman's voice is small, knowing this could all ruin the other's life or timeline. "The rest." Drea says again.
Sarah Jane speaks before the computer has the opportunity of doing so, "Why would I never want to speak to you again? Are you...are you a criminal in your time? Have you killed people?"
"Killed people? Do I look like someone who would kill people?" Drea hums a soft giggle to herself.
"No one looks like a killer unless they kill people." She smirks, "Have you ever hurt someone?"
"No...not really...not intentionally."
"Well then, what makes you believe that I would otherwise not want to speak to you any longer? You've done nothing but help me whilst all of this has been going on. Don't be so quick to judge." Sarah Jane shakes her head slowly, "I apologize, Mister Smith. Please proceed."
"Human and Gallifreyan antibodies show equal presence within Andrea's blood." Mister Smith's computerized voice states simply, "Is there anything else you wish for me to divulge, Andrea?"
"Gallifreyan?" Sarah Jane mumbles to herself before shaking her head, "You're..." She shakes her head. "I don't understand."
"That will be all, Mister Smith." Drea nods, watching as the computer closes it's panels, unmoving, "My father is the one you like to call The Doctor. The only one of his kind remaining." She shrugs, "I've never met him."
"You're the Doctor's daughter." She turns toward the younger woman, attempting to search for any trace of genetics on Drea's face of all the variations of the man she's come to know.
"Well, I'm sure I'm not the only one." The taller woman smiles softly, "There's plenty of children...spanning all sorts of centuries with all sorts of races."
"You've never met him?" Sarah Jane asks sympathetically.
Drea huffs a soft laugh, "No, not at all. I don't even know if I'd know him if I saw him on the street. I only have my descriptions that my mother has told me...some odds and ends that I carry with me. No photographs or anything like that."
"I could show you one, if you'd like. I've a few." The smaller of the two reaches a slender hand out, offering it to the other woman. If it weren't for the tests on the blood samples, Sarah Jane wouldn't be nearly as welcoming.
She nods slightly, not able to feel anything except helpless. There was nothing more in the world she hated except that particular feeling. It didn't happen often, usually paired with a great deal of pain. "I don't..." Drea swallows, "I don't know if I should."
Sarah Jane tilts her head to the side, "Oh? Why wouldn't you want to?"
"I really don't...I'm not comfortable with-" A tear escapes Drea's eye, which she is quick to wipe away with the back of a hand.
The shorter woman quickly steps back, before calling out, "Mister Smith, containment field."
The younger of the two shakes her head, "What? I don't understand."
Sarah Jane smirks, knowing she has the upper hand in the situation for a change, "Miss Jones, I never said anything about the Doctor."