Thanks to secretsquirrel16, Hexilian, Starangel5593, ester. ped. Ufjf, Isabelnecessaryonabicycle, The Wishing Well for following/faving my story.

NicoleR85: thanks! Here's another chapter.

Time-twilight: thanks! Glad you like. I'm not quite sure if the Doctor will tell Rose in this series.

Rose and Melanie turned to the double doors when they heard several sets of running footsteps. "No, no. This classroom's out of bounds" Rose said to the children as she and Melanie stopped them from getting into the classroom "You've all got to go to the South Hall. Off you go, South Hall!" Thankfully the children just left without questioning why they had to go somewhere else.

Not long after Rose had ushered the children away, all the computer screens flickered to life showing code scrolling down it. "You wanted the programme? There it is", Sarah Jane said looking at the screens.

"Some sort of code…" the Doctor said staring at the screen. "No… No, they can't be…" the Doctor breathed when he realised what it was "The Skasis Paradigm. They're trying to crack the Skasis Paradigm".

"The Skasis what?" Sarah Jane asked.

"The…God-maker. The universal theory. Crack that equation and you've got control of the building blocks of the universe" the Doctor explained "Time and space and matter, yours to control".

"What, and the kids are like a giant computer?" Rose asked.

"Yes" the Doctor started to pace, working it out "And their learning power is being accelerated by the oil. That oil from the kitchens, it works as a… as a… conducting agent. Makes the kids cleverer", he explained.

"But that oil's on the chips. I've been eating them", Rose said worriedly.

"What's 59 x 35?" the Doctor asked.

"2,065", Rose answered. The Doctor gave her a 'that says it all' look. "Oh, my God…" the blonde said with wide eyes.

"But why use children? Can't they use adults?" Sarah Jane questioned.

"No, it's gotta be children. The god-maker needs imagination to crack it. They're not just using the children's brains to break the code…they're using their souls", the Doctor said gravely.

"Let the lesson begin", Mr Finch said as he entered the room. The Doctor turns to face him, his stance defensive. He couldn't help it, his Bonded was in the same room as the enemy. And while they hadn't formed the Bond yet, he felt the strong urge to protect her. "Think of it, Doctor. With the Paradigm solved, reality becomes clay in our hands. We can shape the universe and improve it" the Krillitane said as he slowly approached.

"Oh yeah? The whole of creation with the face of Mister Finch? Call me old fashioned, but I like things as they are", the Doctor retorted.

"You act like such a radical, and yet all you want to do is preserve the old order? Think of the changes that could be made if this power was used for good", Mr Finch said.

"What, by someone like you?" the Doctor asked skeptically.

"No… someone like you", Mr Finch replied. The Doctor was a little surprised by that answer, it wasn't one he was expecting. "The Paradigm gives us power, but you could give us wisdom" Mr Finch told the Doctor.

"No", the Doctor said firmly. There was no way on Earth or even in this universe that he would ever work with them. No way!

"But imagine what you could do, Doctor if you had that power", the disguised Krillitane continued.

"I don't want the power", the Doctor said still firm in his resolve "and I'm certainly not going to help you".

"What about your people?" Mr Finch asked "The Time Lords could be reborn".

That had the Doctor hesitating. The Skasis Paradigm would allow him to save every one, stop the war. But at what cost? He could lose Melanie. The thought of losing her made his hearts clench. No, he was not going to lose her. He would rather turn down the chance to save his people than lose her.

"Not interested", the Doctor stated. Mr Finch stared at him in disbelief. He would've at least thought the Doctor would have agreed to that. What was making him turn down that? Mr Finch's gaze shifted over the Doctor's shoulder at the three women. Maybe it's not a 'what' but a 'who' he thought. But which one of them was it?

He stepped around the Doctor, the Time Lord watching him very closely. "You three could be with him throughout eternity", he told them. Mr Finch stepped close to Sarah Jane, watching the Doctor's reaction "young…fresh…never wither…" he moved onto Rose "never age…" he moved onto Melanie and that was when he saw it, the change in the Doctor's stance. Bingo "never die", he said to the brunette pretending he hadn't noticed the Doctor becoming angry at how close he was to this human. Mr Finch walked around to stand behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

The Doctor's hands clenched into fists. How dare he touch her! Mr Finch smirked at his reaction. This human was the key to having the Doctor on his side. "Their lives are so fleeting. So many goodbyes. How lonely you must be, Doctor. Join us", Mr Finch said.

Before the Doctor could say or do anything, Melanie jammed her foot down hard on Mr Finch's. She then quickly rammed her elbow into his gut. These two moves, forced Mr Finch to let her go. She wasted no time running over to the Doctor's side. Sarah Jane and Rose quickly followed suit. The four of them fled the room.


The Doctor, Sarah Jane, Rose and Melanie hurry down a set of stairs where they run into Mickey and Kenny. "What is going on?" Mickey asked. Before anyone could answer him, three Krillitanes approach by half-flying, half- groping along the corridor. The Doctor and the others turn on their heels and run in the opposite direction. They enter the canteen and run across it to try the doors only to find they were locked. The Doctor reaches into his coat for his sonic, just as Mr Finch bursts through the doors followed by several Krillitanes.

"Are they my teachers?" Kenny asked staring at them.

"Yeah. Sorry", the Doctor said apologetically.

"We need the Doctor and Miss Hannigan alive. As for the others…you can feast", Mr Finch said. At the Krillitanes swoop down on the group with the intent to kill them all save the Time Lord and Melanie. The Doctor snatched up a chair to try and fend them off while the others tried desperately to avoid the bat aliens.

Suddenly a beam of red light hit one of the Krillitanes causing it to fall to the floor, dead. K9 had come to the rescue!

"Suggest you engage running mode, mistresses" the metal dog advised.

"Come on!" the Doctor shouts and they all start running again. "K9, hold them back!" the Time Lord called as he ushered every one out of a door.

"Affirmative, master. Maximum defence mode!" K9 shouts and fires continuously at the Krillitanes and Mr Finch.


~Physics lab~

"Everyone ok?" the Doctor asked looking around at them all. They all gave him different versions of 'I'm fine' or 'I'm ok'. "Ellie?" the Doctor asked looking at the brunette.

"Yeah, I'm fine", Melanie replied "how are we going to stop the Krillitanes?" she questioned.

The Doctor had a think about that for a moment, his eyes widening as the answer came to him "the oil. We can stop them with the oil because they've changed their physiology so often that even their own oil is toxic to them", the Doctor explained. He turned to Rose "How much was there in the kitchens?" he asked.

"Barrels of it", Rose replied. They all jump as the Krillitanes pound on the door, their claws ripping holes in it.

"Okay, we need to get to the kitchens. Mickey…" the Doctor began

"What now, hold the coats?" Mickey asked cutting in.

"Get all the children unplugged and out of the school", the Doctor said "Now then, bats, bats, bats. How do we fight bats?"

Kenny went over to the fire alarm and broke the glass with his elbow. The alarm blares which caused the Krillitanes to shriek in pain. The Doctor grins at the boy and flings open the door. He and the others race past the Krillitanes and Mr Finch who are in too much pain to stop them.

When they got to the kitchens, the Doctor went to one of the barrels and tried to use his sonic on it. "They've been deadlock sealed!" he tried another one "Finch must've done that. I can't open them"

"The vats would not withstand a direct hit from my laser, but my batteries are failing", K9 informed him.

"Right. Everyone out the back door. K9, stay with me". Sarah Jane, Rose, Mickey and Kenny run out the door.

"Goodbye K9", Melanie said quietly before she too left. She knew what K9 was about to do and she knew there wasn't any way to save him. Moments later the Doctor ran out, locking the door with his sonic.

"Where's K9?" Sarah Jane asked him seeing that her metal dog isn't with him.

"Mum we need to go", Melanie said grabbing her hand. She trying to pull her away but Sarah Jane wasn't moving.

"Where is he?! What have you done!" she shouted at the Doctor. He didn't answer her, just took her other hand. Together he and Melanie pulled her away from the school. Seconds later the school exploded.

The kids cheered as paper rained down on them. Rose and Mickey also looked rather happy. "I'm sorry", the Doctor said to Sarah Jane quietly.

"It's all right. He was just a… daft metal dog. Fine, really", Sarah Jane said quickly. Melanie hugged her mother as she burst into tears. The girl was just as upset as her mother over losing K9. He was a member of the family after all.


Later…

When Melanie stepped inside the TARDIS, her mouth dropped open "it's amazing!" she exclaimed taking in the large room. Despite knowing it was bigger on the inside, she was still in awe of the place. The Doctor grinned, happy about Melanie's reaction to the TARDIS. He happily noted how the lights seemed to brighten slightly and a gently, happy hum resonated in the air the moment Melanie had stepped in. The Doctor knew that the TARDIS had acknowledged Melanie was his Bonded even though they hadn't formed the Bond yet. That pleased him greatly.

"You've redecorated!" Sarah Jane said as she took in the console room of the TARDIS.

"Do you like it?" the Doctor asked.

"Oh, I, I do. Yeah. I preferred it as it was, but uh… yeah. It'll do", Sarah Jane replied.

"I love it", Rose said patting the console.

"Hey Rose what's 47 x 369?" Sarah Jane asked her.

"No idea" Rose said shrugging "It's gone now. The oil's faded".

"That maybe but you're still pretty clever", Sarah Jane told her.

"We're about to head off, but… you could come with us", the Doctor said hopeful that she would. Sarah Jane shook her head.

"No… I can't travel with you" she said "I've moved on from that. Besides I think maybe it's someone else's turn…"

"Yeah", the Doctor agreed. Both he and Sarah Jane had a discussion about allowing Melanie to travel in the TARDIS. He was fairly happy to let her come and had even agreed to Sarah Jane's terms to keep her safe, or as safe as possible for as long as Melanie was under his care. Sarah Jane also made him promise to bring her daughter back every once in a while for a visit. "So Melanie, would you like to come with us?" the Doctor asked.

"I'd love to!" Melanie said happily. Rose suppressed the urge to pull a face when Melanie agreed to the Doctor's offer to travel with them. Although they'd had a little moment where she, Melanie and Sarah Jane had kind of bonded, she didn't really want the brunette teenager. "I mean if that's ok with you mum", Melanie added.

"It's perfectly fine with me", Sarah Jane assured her "as long as the Doctor keeps his promises", she added looking pointedly at the Doctor.

"I will, cross my hearts" the Doctor said doing just that.

"Can I come?" Mickey asked surprising Sarah Jane "No, not with you" he quickly corrected "I mean…with you" he gestured to the Doctor "'Cause I'm not a tin dog. And I wanna to see what's out there". Rose glanced at the Doctor, mouthing 'no' at him.

"Oh go on, Doctor", Sarah Jane urged.

"Okay then, I could do with a laugh", the Doctor agreed, Rose rolling her eyes at his answer. That was the last thing she needed, not one but two more people travelling with herself and the Doctor.

Mickey laughed in delight but stopped quickly and when he noticed the lack of response from Rose. "Rose, is that okay?" he asked.

"No, great. Why not? "Rose said sarcastically.

"Well, I'd better go", Sarah Jane said cutting through the awkward silence that followed Rose's words. She and the Doctor walked out of the blue box. Melanie decided not to follow them so they could talk alone. "It's daft, but I haven't ever thanked you for that time. And like I said, I wouldn't have missed it for the world", Sarah Jane said.

"Something to tell the grandkids", the Doctor said. His hearts literally jumped at the prospect of having children with his Bonded.

Sarah Jane laughed "Oh I doubt that will happen any time soon Doctor. Not when there's a whole universe waiting to be explored", she said.

"Good point", the Doctor agreed. Yeah, a very good point. You haven't even formed the Bond with her a little voice in his head piped up. You shouldn't even be thinking about kids yet. Yep he was kind of thinking way, way into the future. He needed to take this one step at a time. And do it properly.

"Goodbye Doctor", Sarah Jane said after a moment.

"Oh, it's not goodbye. You'll be seeing me again", the Doctor said "especially since you'd like Melanie to come home every so often".

"I know but please Doctor. This time, say it", Sarah Jane requested.

"Goodbye, my Sarah Jane", the Doctor said complying with her request. He throws his arms around her and lifts her off the ground, hugging her. When he set her down, Melanie came hurrying out to of the TARDIS. She ran over to her mum and hugged her.

"Bye mum", Melanie said.

"Goodbye sweetheart", Sarah Jane said kissing the top of her head. Melanie smiled at her before going back into the TARDIS.

"I hope your mum likes the gift I left her", the Doctor said switching on the scanner.

"You rebuilt K9!" Melanie said seeing her mother walk away with K9 mark IV trundling along next to her. She hugged the Doctor happily missing the dirty look Rose was giving her.