The TARDIS wheezed into existence on Hillview Road. After looking around briefly, the Doctor made his way along the street to Sarah's house. Anxiety clawed at his stomach as he knocked on the door. And there she was, his Sarah Jane, stood in the doorway in a loose smock-dress and sporting a nasty black eye.
"Hello, Sarah," he greeted her, smiling broadly. He longed so much to pull her into an embrace that it almost hurt.
"What are you doing here?" she asked urgently, her eyes furtively scanning the length of the road.
"I needed to see you," he told her softly. "I made a terrible mistake."
"You've got to go," she insisted. "I've moved on. I'm happy and I don't need you crashing in and shaking things up."
Somehow he didn't quite believe her. "How did you get that black eye?" he asked.
"I had an accident," she mumbled. "Walked into a door."
After a moment's thought, he decided not to press the matter further and instead tried to lighten the atmosphere. He fished in a pocket of his coat and withdrew a familiar paper bag. "Would you like a jellybaby?"
She took one and smiled ever so slightly, then suddenly her face fell. "Darren, you're home," she gasped.
"Hey, baby," he greeted her, kissing her roughly. There was something in his voice that assumed possession of her. "Who's this?"
"He's just a friend," she explained, a hint of worry showing in her voice. "And he was just leaving, weren't you, Doctor?"
He wanted to say something, but her beseeching look stopped him in his tracks. He turned and walked away reluctantly. Something was definitely wrong and he resolved that he would help Sarah however he could.
Sarah was huddled on the sofa when Darren came in with some tea. She forced herself not to shrink away from him. Fear made him angry.
"Baby, who was that man?" he asked, hovering over her.
"I told you, he's just a friend," she insisted.
Scalding hot tea landed on her arm, causing her to cry out.
"Don't lie to me, Sarah," he said menacingly. "Let's try again. Who was he?"
"He was my best friend," she gasped. "We used to travel together."
"You've been very naughty, Sarah Jane," he snarled, leering at her. "And naughty little girls have to be punished."