A short epilogue to this story. Many, many thanks for bearing with it, it ended up going in a bit of a different direction to where I intended it to originally and I did struggle with it at times. I welcome all comments!

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Sarah stood at the Doctor's shoulder and watched the invigorated Mir dismantling the dish; the chain gang, now free of chains and willingly helping each other to carry the stones back to the mountains, burying them back in their natural caverns. One by one they had come to her, pressing their hands against hers in gratitude, each individual seeming to take additional strength from the contact. The Doctor stood near enough to touch her but never reached out, his mental protection enough to shield her from the onslaught she would have otherwise experienced from the proximity to so much projection.

"I've one more thing to show you." Sam said to them both, and they followed him down across the basin into the laboratory. They passed through the long, thin room and began the descent through a dank tunnel into the mountain before Sam branched sharply off to the right.

"Yours, I believe?" he asked gesturing into a small cavern.

"The TARDIS!" Sarah exclaimed in relief and delight.

The Doctor affectionately ran his hand over the blue wood, smiling to himself before turning as a small disturbance behind them caught his attention. Sarah followed his gaze and saw the General and what was left of his guard slowly pass by, surrounded by several Mir armed with the spears the guard had abandoned when they had been overcome by the projections.

"What will happen to him?" the Doctor questioned.

Sam smiled grimly.

"They'll find somewhere for him. His guard are of no use to him now; they're far too susceptible to the power of suggestion. Fine for him when he was the only one who could still project, no use now that everyone else can do it again too."

"And you?" Sarah asked.

San shrugged, his expression resigned.

"I suppose I'll stay here. The Mir are kind, it could be worse."

"Or," the Doctor began with a broad smile, "we could give you a lift home. What do you say?"

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Sam gazed in wonder out of the TARDIS doors.

"I'm home." he whispered, turning to the Doctor and Sarah as they watched him from the threshold. The Doctor waved off his thanks and threw an arm round Sarah's shoulder. She reached up to tug at his fingertips as they watched Sam walk away, turning just once to wave goodbye.

"So. Where to now, my Sarah?"

Sarah Jane smiled to herself. The Doctor inside her head; what else could he possibly surprise her with now?

FIN

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