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Chapter 2 – Sins of the Father

When the regeneration energy faded, Jamie bolted before Alastair could get a proper look at him. He forced his way through the people and vanished. Alastair tried to run after him, but it was hopeless. He could only hope that his son would run home. He dug his phone out of his pocket and rang Rose.

"Hello, Rose? Yes, it's me, look you need to get home now, it's an emergency."

She was waiting for him when he arrived, looking pale and nervous.

"Al? What is it? What's happened?"

Alastair sank into a chair. "It's Jamie, he was… he got hit by a car."

"What? Is he…" she sat down, white as a sheet. "Doctor… Al, is he dead?"

"He regenerated," he whispered miserably. Her eyes widened. "He regenerated, and then he ran off. I have no idea what he looks like, and now he's probably unconscious somewhere."

"Oh my God…"

"I'm hoping he will return home when he wakes up. If he does, we need to be prepared."

"Prepared for what?"

"Rose, he can't stay here."

"What do you mean?"

"He needs more help than I can give him. He needs to be able to grow up as a Time Lord, with a Time Lord."

"You can't mean… him? But he's our son!"

"I know Rose,"

"Al – Doctor, you can't seriously be considering this?"

"What's to consider? You know the rift's still active; we can find a way to send him through."

"But you know how risky that is! He could end up in deep space!"

"I think I can modify the system a bit. Rose, it could be his only chance."

"I don't want to send him away,"

"Nor do I, but we don't have much choice."

-DW-

James was dreaming, he knew that much. If it wasn't the floating in mid-air bit that gave it away, it was that here his parents looked even younger here than they did in their wedding photographs. They were sprawled out on the grass, deep in conversation. His mother was sulking about something, but she had a mischievous look about her that made James realise it was just pretend.

"What's wrong with 'Doctor'?" she asked petulantly. "I like it,"

"I'm not him," sighed his father. This was obviously an on-going disagreement. "I need to be my own person, so, new name."

"What about John Smith? That's what you usually use."

"Nah, too boring. Let me think…" he sank into his memories, picking them apart.

"Going through your companions?" teased Rose. "Who was your best friend, back in the olden days?"

"Jamie and Alastair were probably the ones I knew longest. Probably Sergeant Benton too, but his name was John…"

"So, if you were to choose, Jamie or Alastair?"

"Um… Alastair," he admitted. "Jamie was… very special. I'm not sure I could live up to his name."

"So, Alastair. What was his surname?"

"Lethbridge-Stuart."

Rose laughed. "What a mouthful! What about the other one?"

"Mcrimmon? Too Scottish. This is England. So: Jackson? Heriot? Benton? Turlough? Chesterton…?"

"Chesterton?"

"Mm, Ian Chesterton, one of the first humans I travelled with."

"It's appropriate. Alastair Chesterton. I like it."

He grinned at her. She was right, he had found his name.

He jerked awake to find himself cold and wet, and it took a while to remember who and where he was. Once he had ascertained that he was Jamie Chesterton, not his father, and that the alleyway he was in probably wasn't beneficial towards his general health, he struggled to his feet and wandered away in an attempt to make his way home. As he walked, he reached a number of conclusions.

His height was different. He was even smaller and skinnier than he had been before the… change, or whatever it was that had happened to him. His hair was now dark and hung in his eyes, and upon feeling his face he could tell that that had changed as well… he stopped himself mid-thought. He had to focus on getting home; otherwise he was going to panic.

He breathed a huge sigh of relief when he found a street he recognised, and began to head in the right direction, wobbling slightly. He wondered how long he had been unconscious, but before he could work it out he had reached the front door, and rang the doorbell unsteadily.

"Jamie?" asked a voice as the door swung open. James tried to focus on his mother's face, but his vision swam and he fainted.

-DW-

Alastair took the stethoscope away from his son's chest.

"It's definitely him," he said to Rose. "His hearts are beating slightly irregularly. Understandable, he's been under a lot of strain. He's sleeping; he should be alright for now."

"For now?"

"Rose," he said seriously. "We have to get him to The Doctor. We have no choice."

Tears welled up in her eyes. "No, it won't be safe."

"Rose, he will be in even more danger here. In this universe he is isolated; a Time Lord cannot survive alone."

"He managed," said Rose.

"He was not growing, and besides, you saw the state I – he was in. I don't want Jamie to grow up like that."

His wife looked to the floor. Her resolve was weakening.

"D-dad?"

"Jamie!"

The small boy was stirring, his eyelids fluttering weakly.

"Dad… you're going to… send me… send me…"

"Sh, calm down."

Jamie blinked, sitting up slowly.

"What happened? I was hit by a car, then… I was burning."

"You regenerated," said Alastair gently.

"What?"

Patiently, Alastair began to explain about regeneration, what it did, the after affects, and the consequences. To his relief his son accepted all information readily and without question.

"Makes sense," he nodded in a remarkably mature manner. "I've known for a while that I wasn't quite human."

"What gave it away?" smiled Alastair, trying to lighten the mood. "The two hearts?"

"Two hearts," said Jamie glumly. "Lower core temperature, slower growth rate, practically non-existent pulse, latent telepathic and hypnosis abilities…"

"Hypnosis?" asked Rose. "You kept that quiet."

"Not every Time Lord has the ability," said Alastair. "Those that do often don't realise they have the potential, sometimes it can stay buried for generations. For those that do manage to harness it…" he smiled grimly. "Well let's just say that sometimes the devastation was widespread, but I think I can trust you not to become a megalomaniac like The Master."

"The Master? Is he like me?"

"He was, but he's dead now. They all are. The Doctor's the only one left, apart from you."

"Do you mean Grandfather?"

Alastair and Rose stared in shock.

"How could you possibly know that?"

"I have weird dreams," he mumbled. "I suppose another side effect of being a Time Lord is seeing the past, present and future at the same time."

"Err, yeah that about sums it up," said Alastair sheepishly.

"Do you think you can get me through the rift?"

"It's a possibility."

"I think I can make it work."

"Jamie…"

"Don't 'Jamie' me, mother! Dad's right, I have to find The Doctor."

She bowed her head in defeat.

"Okay."