I'm glad people are enjoying the fic so far. Now for the fun part where Amy and Rory start meeting their predecessors.
After thinking about it for quite a while, I've decided to include Sarah Jane; I know Elizabeth Sladen has passed away, but as far as I can tell they haven't acknowledged it like they did with the Brigadier. Also, I really do like her character so leaving her out would have felt wrong somehow. For anyone who hasn't seen the SJA episode "Death of the Doctor", she, along with previous companion Jo Grant, has met the 11th Doctor. I've read that Sarah Jane has a sort-of adopted daughter, but I've only ever seen Luke so that's what I'm sticking with. I hope this is ok with everyone, and enjoy!
Dobby's Polka-Dotted Sock
Chapter Four
Amy collapsed into the pilot's chair after a particularly draining visit. Sure, meeting the unaging Cambridge professor Ian and Barbara had been interesting, and many of the Doctor's other friends had been…unusual. But spending a whole morning with a sobbing Jo Grant and her giant hippie family was exhausting.
At first the older woman had refused to believe it. Apparently something like this had happened before, while the two of them had been on another honeymoon. But the Doctorless TARDIS and the video of his last moments as a Time Lord eventually wore her down, and Rory had suddenly found himself with an armful of crying companion. As usual, her husband awkwardly patted the woman's back and Amy came to the rescue with tissues and a strong cup of tea.
"I saw him…not long ago. So full of life—and looking like a baby! You- you're the Ponds?" She wiped her eyes and observed them both.
"Yeah. How'd you know that?" Amy asked, curious.
Jo gave a watery smile. "He mentioned you. Big, happy grin on his young face. No married couples on the TARDIS. That was the old rule." She took both of their hands. "He must have liked you two a lot to make an exception."
All right. So maybe that was the reason she was currently curled up on the beat-up chair. She just missed her Raggedy Doctor so much.
She lifted her head to locate Rory and ask him who was next, but the words died from her lips when she noticed his position. The Last Centurion was sitting, hunched over, on the steps leading up to the consol, his head resting on his arms. And it sounded like he was sniffling.
"Rory?" Amy asked tentatively, getting up and moving to sit beside her husband. "What's wrong?"
He looked up at her and his were red and watery, but none of the tears had spilled over. "He didn't have to keep us. He knew we were getting married and even when we were, he let us stay. He- he wanted both of us to stay. I'd always thought maybe he only tolerated me, but- but—"
"Rory." She wrapped her arms around him and let him hide his face in her long hair. "Oh Rory." They did not move for some time, not until footsteps could be heard approaching from down the corridor. River emerged holding a tray.
"I thought I heard you come in. Figured you might need some tea." Amy smiled in gratitude at her daughter.
"Tea sounds nice, yeah."
River had been granted leave from the university for her ordeal at the Library, which would carry over into the school's summer holiday. She certainly needed the time. When Amy and Rory had started on this last series of journeys, their usually adventurous daughter had surprised them by staying on the TARDIS. She flew the ship to their destination and would then retreat to her room, never seeing or speaking with the Doctor's old friends. Amy supposed the archeologist did not want to constantly be reminded of her husband's…ended existence. She didn't know if that was good or bad, or if River's attitude was even healthy. She and Rory weren't exactly an example of the perfect couple, after all. But if her daughter wanted to be alone, she would give her the space she needed.
Rory glanced at his watch after finishing his cup, seeming to have calmed after his lapse into insecurity. "I think we could go see someone else. It's just past noon." They were only using the TARDIS as a normal space ship at the moment. None of the Ponds wanted to deal with the headache that travelling through time would cause to their mission. Imagine if they wound up bequeathing something to a person who hadn't even met the Doctor yet!
And Amy knew if she just started to think about time travel…she'd be tempted to try and fix this. And unfortunately, he'd made it far too clear why she could not.
So with a steadying sigh, she walked to the monitor. "Ok, who's next?" A name flashed on the screen above an address. Sarah Jane Smith, 13 Bannerman Road. "River, do you mind…?" She let the question trail as her daughter stared at the monitor. The woman then shook her head as if to clear it, curls flying this way and that.
"No, of course not." With spectacular efficiency River piloted the TARDIS as Amy and Rory stood calmly. Not being jostled about, not wincing at sparking wires, not having to hold on for dear life. The Doctor had called them the blue boringers and she was starting to agree with his sentiment. "We're here," the professor informed her parents, and then surprised them by actually walking to the doors.
"River, you're coming?" Rory couldn't keep from asking in bewilderment.
"Uh huh, this one's special," was the cryptic reply, before she swung open the door and stepped out. Not to be outdone by her own daughter, Amy followed while grabbing Rory by the arm and dragging him out of the police box.
"Er, River?" Amy started, looking around in confusion. Rory helpfully finished for her.
"We've landed in someone's attic."
"I know," she told them. That was all she said, because then they were interrupted by a loud, embarrassingly cheesy fanfare as a wall literally opened to reveal—
"Is that…a computer? That's a computer!" Amy could only gape at the massive thing. And then it spoke.
"TARDIS identified. Welcome, Doctor." Things only grew more bizarre as they were blinded by a flash of light near the floor. When she finished blinking the spots from her eyes, she looked to see- not possible.
"Master?" What could only be described as a robot…animal asked.
River bent down to the dog's level. "Hello," she said sweetly, "you must be K-9."
"K-9?" Rory repeated numbly.
"Oh my god, he wasn't joking," Amy murmured, not able to take her eyes of the machine. "He really did have a robot dog."
"You are not Master," said the thing as River stood back up, its tone never wavering. "Where is Master?"
"Sarah Jane, you have visitors," said the giant computer. Sarah Jane, the woman they were supposed to be seeing. Right. But a robot dog!
"Yes, Mr. Smith!" A woman called up a set of stairs, and then they heard her footsteps. She emerged, dressed smartly in a blouse, vest, and suit pants. "Afternoon," she greeted primly. "I'd ask how you got in here, but—" Her eyes flickered to the TARDIS and she gave a little smile. "So, what does the Doctor need? I know none of you are him."
Amy supposed the woman was referring to regeneration. So she'd met other Doctors? Still, she was curious to know why she was so confident in her ability to identify the alien. "Why not?"
Here, Sarah Jane Smith's lips turned up in a fond smile. "He'd be all over K-9," she answered simply. Oh, right. His dog. Amy had seen people and their pets, but the idea of behaving that way towards a metal contraption…well, it was something only the Doctor would do.
"Where is Master?" The robot repeated. Sarah Jane nodded in agreement with its question.
"And I presume you three have something to tell me?"
"Er, right," Rory said with a start. "I'm Rory, this is my wife, Amy, and our daughter, River." If Sarah Jane thought it was odd that their daughter appeared a good bit older than them, she didn't show it. Instead, she shook each of her hands.
"Sarah Jane Smith, pleased to meet you. The Ponds, yes?"
"Well—" Rory began.
"Yeah, that's us," Amy confirmed.
"Yeah," her husband concurred in defeat.
"May I ask why the Doctor isn't with you at the moment?" Her gaze went over their heads and to the blue box behind them, as if waiting for the mad man to burst forth. Amy and Rory exchanged a glance. This was always the worst part. After the introductions had been made, that question would inevitably be asked and they had to explain. It was like taking a knife and stabbing it through the practically stranger's heart.
"He's- gone," Amy admitted. It was always very complicated, because they could not lie and say he was dead, but merely saying he was gone seemed to leave this tiny sort of spark of disbelief or wild hope in the other person.
"Where?" A frown marred the woman's still quite pretty features, and Amy mused that Sarah Jane must have been absolutely beautiful when she was young.
And so it began again. The situation in the Library, the actions he'd taken to save River, and where that left him now. She seemed to follow it better than others, and by the end was rapidly blinking back tears.
"You said, he left something to me?" She finally asked.
"Yeah, in his- will," Amy spoke that last word on a whisper.
"Well then, after you," Sarah Jane gestured to the TARDIS, and all four went inside. She looked about with the same amazement, wonder, and happiness that each of them felt for the ship, and lightly patted a railing. They gave her the pilot's chair, and Amy went to stand beside River as Rory started up the video.
"He might, er, look a bit different than you remember—" he started, as they had had that confusion in the past.
"Brown hair, tweed jacket, and a bowtie?" Sarah Jane interrupted with a brief description. Rory nodded. "I've seen him."
"Next, is to Sarah Jane Smith," the recorded Doctor said with a large smile. "Oh, Sarah Jane. Look at you. Look at you! You never stop! Doesn't matter if you're travelling the universe, or just on 13 Bannerman Road. You keep on investigating- keep on helping- keep on protecting and saving the people you care about, and then some. You're magnificent! You've got a loving family, tremendous friends that don't mind getting body-swapped to distant wastelands, and yet you still manage to save the planet on a regular basis!" He finished on an incredulous laugh.
"It's hardly anything that impressive," Sarah Jane said, but she was smiling at the praise none the less.
"You've brought me so much happiness by being my friend, Sarah Jane," the Doctor confided, "And it's time I gave you something in return. My gift to you is two things. For starters, I am returning that warp star to you."
"Oh, don't do that," the woman breathed, looking away almost ashamed.
"I know you're not proud of what almost happened on the Crucible, and I can't say I was all that happy you would consider it. But I understood your reasoning. Simply put, Sarah Jane, I'd failed. I'd failed, and there weren't many options left. And now, in the future should you need me, I'll fail to appear. Again. And I am so very sorry about that."
"You've nothing to be sorry about," she muttered, shaking her head vehemently.
"The point is, I trust you with that warp star. I trust that should you ever need it, you'll use it in the right way." He lifted what could only be this 'warp star' into view on the screen. "Plus, it is rather pretty to look at."
Sarah Jane chuckled weakly and wiped at her eyes.
"My second gift to you is a maintenance kit for K-9. I've trusted him to your care for this long, but I might as well do this for my faithful dog." He stopped in thought for a moment, likely reminiscing, and he continued in a softer voice.
"Oh Sarah Jane Smith. You've done so much- seen so much with your life. I could hardly be prouder. Luke ought to be proud to be your son. You've seen me at some of my best—some of my worst. I've come to you with so many faces, and yet, each time you welcome me with open arms."
The Doctor passed a hand over his eyes and managed a smile. "Thank you. My Sarah Jane." He said it with such reverence Amy thought she might start crying. Sarah Jane already was. In the video the Doctor blinked several times, took a deep shuddering breath, and collected himself.
"Okay, um, next is—" Rory reached forward silently and pressed pause. For a long moment, no one spoke.
"I'll go and, er, get the- the things," her husband offered, heading down the corridor to the room the TARDIS was stowing all the Doctor's last gifts in.
"I'm not the first on this list, correct? And not the last?" Amy nodded, and the brunette dried her tears, a satisfied smile on her face. "I told him once. He has the biggest family on Earth." She turned towards River. "I think that's what he's trying to show you. You're not alone; we all knew and loved him."
River smiled and wiped at her eyes. 'Thank you." It was barely a whisper. Sarah Jane stood from the pilot's chair and took both of their hands. "I'd like it if you could stay- just for a little while. It's been some time since I've really had company—my son's studying at university."
Amy almost said no, but… "Yeah, I think we'd like that. Thanks." They were exiting the TARDIS as Rory returned carrying the items.
"Aren't we leav—"
"Come on, stupid face, we're having tea."
Five hours passed—"and I said, 'Did you wish really hard?'" The three women dissolved into peals of laughter as Rory chuckled in remembrance. "And then…she said…" Amy struggled to get out between laughs, "she said, 'Hello, I'm Sexy.'" It was a few good minutes before any of them could manage much more than literally convulsing with laughter.
"I knew he was in love with his ship!" Sarah Jane managed with conviction, and then fell back into giggles.
It was with tears, smiles, and many hugs that the Ponds returned to the TARDIS. "Come visit anytime," the older woman told them, and Amy was pretty sure she would be taking her up on that offer.
River started the dematerialization process in a much brighter mood than usual, and she couldn't help but to find herself agreeing with the investigator. She had been looking on this task as something painful and sad, but perhaps what she should be doing was thinking of it as an opportunity to meet simply amazing people and learn more about her friend to help fill the void his absence left. Perhaps that had been his intention all along.
"We're back," their daughter announced, and the three Ponds walked out onto their back lawn in Leadworth.
"Just as I suspected, the disturbance in the Rift was centered here," said an unfamiliar voice. "Now I'm going to need an explanation."
Aaaand that's chapter four! I hope I did Sarah Jane (and Jo Grant) justice! I'll be interested to see if anyone guesses who the stranger is—sorry for the cliffhanger. Who knows, it might be obvious to you, but let me know what you think. Thanks for reading, and please review!