You can thank Celtic Woman for the speedy delivery of the chapter! Not the best chapter in the world, but I just wanted to finish up this chapter quickly, so here it is. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Still own nothing...

After an hour of finding absolutely no sign of a girl from the nineties trapped in the forties, the Doctor made his way back to the TARDIS hoping the Professor had had better luck. He was about to slide the key into the lock when he felt his brother's presence in his mind and whipped around. The Professor was walking toward him down the street, carrying a small figure covered in his own coat.

The Doctor smiled, committing the image to memory. The Professor had never been one for children, calling them a nuisance and a distraction. So it was quite comical to see such a stubborn man carrying a tiny human girl down the street while she dozed on his shoulder.

"Not a word," he growled quietly, sensing the Doctor's thoughts.

Chuckling, the Doctor opened the door and stepped aside to let the other man carry their precious cargo inside. The Professor set the girl down in the armchair in their lounge just off the console room, adjusting his coat so it covered all of her small body.

The Doctor cocked his head to the side, "Little small for a nine-year-old, isn't she?"

The Professor grunted, moving back to the console to start setting coordinates for Sarah Jane's house, about five minutes after they left. The TARDIS hummed contentedly, dimming the lights. She really seemed to like the new young human her Thieves had brought onboard.

The Doctor studied the sleeping child. Something was off about her, but he couldn't place his finger on what. He reached out with his mind, gently prodding the adolescent mind. He gasped when her mind pushed back.

"Is she…?"

"Yes," the Professor answered calmly, not looking up from his work. "She's a telepath. Quite a strong one at that. But she has very little control over it, so be careful what you think around her."

He nodded, staring wide-eyed as the girl stirred, doubling his mind's shields just in case. Blinking and yawning, the girl sat up, pushing back the coat as she took in her surroundings. When she spotted the Doctor, she froze, fear pulsing from her mind.

The Doctor tried to smile reassuringly, "Hello, dear. I'm the Doctor. Did you have a nice nap?"

"Yes, thank you," she said slowly, looking behind him. Seeing the Professor, she hopped off the chair and hurried forward. The Doctor was shocked to see her take the Professor's hand. Even more surprised when he didn't let go, but instead gathered the girl into a light embrace, comforting her.

"Billie, this is my brother," he told her softly. "Another friend of your Aunt Sarah."

Billie's shoulder's relaxed but she didn't move from the Professor's side. "Where are we?" she asked, looking around again.

"It's called the TARDIS," the Professor said, shooting a glance at the Doctor, mentally telling him to keep his mouth shut for now. "It's our ship."

She looked around, eyeing the lounge, "You live here." Not a question.

"Yes we do," the Professor nodded. "We also travel around a lot. Your Aunt Sarah was just about to take a holiday with us."

"Where were you going to go?" she asked excitedly.

"We were going to go see the stars," the Doctor couldn't help but tell her excitedly.

Her eyes widened, "You can do that?"

"Oh yes," he grinned, kneeling down in front of the girl to talk on her level. "That's what the TARDIS does. She can travel all through space and time. That's how we were able to find you."

"Wow," Billie said breathlessly. She turned back to the Professor, tugging on his hand enthusiastically, "Can I go too? Please? I promise to be good."

He sighed, "We'll see. I believe you'll have to ask your mother and Aunt first, yeah?"

She nodded, smiling widely as the Professor sent her back to the chair while he prepared for flight.

And the night gets weirder and weirder, the Doctor thought. He had been sure the Professor would tell Billie no, that she was too young. But he had actually given her a conditional yes. What strange power did this little girl hold over the centuries old Time Lord?

Professor? He asked mentally.

We'll have to bring her, whether or not her mother wants it, he answered. We can't leave her to deal with her telepathy on her own. It could drive her mad if she doesn't learn to put up mental barriers.

The Doctor nodded. It was true he could still feel the power of the small mind from across the room. There was no way she would be able to lead a normal life without some training. And who better to train her than two members of the most powerful telepathic race in existence.


Miraculously, Billie fallen back to sleep, and stayed that way despite the rocky ride. The Professor had a feeling the TARDIS was helping with that, but couldn't be sure. He sent her a mental thank you anyway. She hummed in return as the Professor gathered the little girl in his arms. Billie mumbled something unintelligible and wrapped her thin arms around his neck. He grinned slightly. She was rather adorable.

The Doctor led the way out the door. They had landed in Sarah Jane's back garden. A light was still shining out of the kitchen window, a tale-tell sign that Sarah Jane had waited up. And probably fallen asleep in the living room as she wasn't rushing out to see her niece.

They entered through the kitchen door and moved down the hall where, just as he thought, Sarah Jane was slumped in an armchair, her head lulling on her shoulder uncomfortably and a cold cup of tea sitting at her elbow.

"Sarah Jane," the Doctor gently shook her awake.

The moment she recognized who loomed over her, she jumped up searching for Billie. The Professor gently handed her the still-sleeping child who stirred only to make a small noise of protest.

"Oh, thank God," Sarah Jane whispered, clutching Billie to her as if it were her own child. She looked the Professor in the eye, somehow sensing that it had been him to discover the girl. "Thank you."

He simply nodded. Billie had woken and was complaining about being fussed over, insisting she was fine and just wanted to go to bed. Sarah Jane chuckled, leading her upstairs and telling the Time Lords to make themselves comfortable.

A few minutes later she returned, still grinning broadly, "She's sleeping in bed with Greg. I really can't thank you guys enough. That little girl means the world to me."

The Professor nodded and motioned for her to sit as the Doctor came in with a fresh pot of tea and cups, "We need to discuss something with you, Sarah Jane."

She sat taking the offered tea, "Look, I know I said I wanted to continue traveling with you, but I think Billie needs me here. My sister doesn't always remember to give her the attention she deserves and I'm afraid after the attention of having gotten lost fades, she'll start ignoring Billie more than ever."

The Professor waved off that worry, "We'll come back to that if you like, but first we need to talk to you about something we discovered about Billie."

"What about her?" she asked defensively. Like a mother bear protecting her cub, the Professor noted. He filed that away for later.

"Did you know she can hear voices?" he asked gently.

Her eyes widened, "She told you?"

He shook his head, "She didn't have to. Telepaths can always sense when another telepath is nearby."

"So she's a telepath. She's not crazy, like my sister said," Sarah Jane smiled happily at this thought.

The Professor frowned. He hated that humans, especially of this era, always thought the worst of people who had special gifts.

"Of course not," the Doctor growled, equally disgusted, and sighed, "However, if she doesn't learn to control it, it very well could drive her mad."

Sarah Jane bit her lip nervously, "What can I do to help her?"

"We can teach her how to put up walls in her mind, to keep out other people's minds," the Professor explained. "Depending on how quick a study she is, it could take a while. I suggest she travels with us, with you along as chaperone, of course."

Sarah Jane didn't hesitate to nod, "Of course. Whatever helps Billie."

"And her mother?" the Doctor asked. "What will she say?"

She rolled her eyes and snorted, "My dear sister has hardly taken any noticed in that girl since the day she was born. She won't mind to be rid of her for a few weeks. And she's out of school for the summer, so that won't be a problem."

The Professor gave a short nod, "Good. Then I suggest you go get some rest. We'll leave as soon as you're both prepared tomorrow morning."