Chapter 10

Nova looked at the door, which hadn't been locked after the Doctor left and wondered if he had done it to test them. Would they stay if he didn't ensure it? She really didn't want to test the Time Lord. He was terrifying when he wanted to be. She felt the ship send her more reassurance that the consequences wouldn't be too bad, and that the Doctor would take care of them. However, Nova also knew that the TARDIS had a rather large bias towards her Pilot, not that the redhead could blame her. "Hi Kyle," she said simply.

"Hi," he returned numbly. It was still a lot to take in. He couldn't meet Sarah Connor because she didn't need him. Skynet didn't exist and never would anymore. John Connor was dead, but only because a new one would take his place. Kyle didn't know what was worse. "So…you girls come here often?"

Sara laughed softly at him, "No, we just hang around infirmaries for the fun of it. See all the drugs that will kill us?"

Nova nodded with a sad smile. "Not to mention all the tools that can do permanent damage if one is not careful and trained on them. There is a reason only the Doctor uses his medbay. He's the only one who won't kill people with it."

"Accidentally kill people." Sara interjected.

"Granted," Nova conceded. She sighed, "The TARDIS is going again that we will be fine with the Doctor and…well, best translation is 'just go with the flow'."

Kyle asked, "What could he do to you?"

Nova winced. "By Gallifreyan law, the Doctor is within his rights to kill us both or worse. Pretty much anything he wants to do, he can. Personally, I'm surprised the only thing he's really threatened us with is transferring the adoption. At least this one is saner than the last. I don't mind…even if it is done with extreme prejudice." She sighed. "I'm really sorry Kyle. I'm so sorry." A tear slipped down her cheek.

"So am I," Sara interjected. "We are both really sorry…"

"I understand. I'm a soldier. I am well acquainted with 'necessary losses'." He said softly. Honestly, the concept that he had lost his whole universe hadn't hit him yet. He had been willing to die for Sarah Connor. He loved her. But this? This was a bit much to deal with at one time. So, he focused on something else. "What do you think he'll do? The Doctor?"

Sara turned to Nova to see her reaction. She knew that Nova understood Gallifrey and the Doctor in particular better than she, though only by a slight margin. However, she also knew that different universes created different results. The universe Nova watched in her dreams certainly wasn't this one.

Nova swallowed, "After the adoption…he will more than likely seal us in the ship until he can teach us…give us the equivalent of the entire Academy training. Little trips here and there to ease the boredom, maybe. Rewards for doing well." She ran a hand through her hair, tucking it back behind an ear in her nerves. "He was an excellent father…I'm hoping it transfers to us."

Transfer the bond. That didn't sound terribly pleasant but he wasn't killing the two girls that stood before him. Briefly he was reminded of Sarah. They looked just around her age and both held so much guilt. As though they slaughtered each person themselves. No machines to fight. Maybe this was the world John often spoke of. Wished they were part of. He remembered distinctly one of John's wishes once the war was over.

"You two know a place where we can get a beer?" He asked. If the door was open, then they could step out. The Doctor brought him inside. Offered him a place to stay but Kyle hadn't reached a conclusion.

"You don't understand." Sara told him softly as she glanced at Nova. "Kyle, with your universe, your timeline gone, you exist here as a dimensional duplicate. Another version of you will be born to parents who never experienced the war."

"My family?" Kyle exclaimed. "I can go see my family. My parents-"

"No you can't." Nova shook her head. "That's what we're saying. They're not your parents. Your family ceased to exist. These are just a set of parents that will eventually give birth to a Kyle Reese."

"There are billions upon billions of potential realities out there. They all could have versions of you and your family. But they won't be you." Sara told him softly. "Just when my universe ceased to exist, I can't go to find this realities version of my parents. They wouldn't be mine."

He was just starting to grasp the seriousness of the implications, taking a deep breath. "John asked you to do this. He understood…."

"Understood as best he could. He knew he was going to die." Sara felt tears come to her eyes. "It's okay. You should hate us after what we did. We cost you your world."

"I knew it was a one way trip. I wouldn't see my world again." Kyle said numbly. "If I have to start over…"

"Kyle, that's another thing." Nova grimaced. "The Doctor telling us that you would join us…it's not really an offer. By Gallifreyan law, it is within his right to take any time displaced creatures into custody. That includes….well, all of us. You're under his wardship now."

He stared at them in shock. They both looked back at him grimly. That was how they appeared when the Doctor returned, two pieces of ribbon in hand. He looked towards the human first. "Kyle," He kept his tone calm. "Perhaps you want to change." He had managed to dig out a pair of scrubs for the man to wear so he didn't have to continually use the coat of his last regeneration. "Maybe a bite to eat. Help sort you out a room when I'm done here." He glanced at both girls. "I hope you're both prepared. I want to keep this as unpleasant and the least painful as I can."

"Unpleasant?" Kyle's military senses were coming alert. "No, I will stay here and keep alert." Regardless of circumstance, the two girls in front of him were the last links he had to the timeline he knew.

Sara was thinking and thinking hard. If she tried to run, she would have to leave Nova behind. Nova was resigned to the new bond. They had expected some form of consequence. It was just that the first bond had been such an utter violation to her. The Doctor knocked her out and put it in place while she was unconscious. She had done nothing wrong then. Lost her universe and happened to land on his ship.

"Please," She started to beg the Doctor. "Please don't do this. The other Doctor, he put me to sleep. Violated my mind to force the bond into place and shoved all my emotions away. Tried to change me. Tried to change Nova. I know we broke the rules. I know what we did was terrible but please, please don't hurt me again. Not like that. I'd rather die." She fell to her knees. "I'd rather die…." Her voice cracked as she started to cry. No, she wouldn't run but she would hope he would have some mercy.

"You're not harming either one of them." Kyle said, instantly feeling a protective urge and stepped in front of the two girls to face the Doctor who resembled so greatly a person he once knew in his unit. Who was it? He thought. Tim?

"No one is harming anyone." The Doctor said in exasperation, looking at his three passengers. Clearly the first Doctor they encountered had broken the rules too regarding the establishment of bondings. Alterations of that nature of the mind were expressly prohibited and considered a violation, especially on members of those of a higher species. It might explain a thing or two. He sighed as he attempted to calm his tone.

"I need you two to listen to me." He tried. "The Time Lord who established your bond made modifications to you by force. He committed a violation and that is damaging to your psyche. If I allow the bond to continue like it is, that damage will become permanent but if I can transfer it, then I can fix it and stabilize you. Make sure your TNA transition is not over accelerated." He paused before looking at Sara. "Did you know it was?" He asked as she glanced up at him, her eyes looking blank. "Probably how you two ended up in the timeline you did. The unstable bond, your TNA in connection with your TARDIS energy…." He winced. "No one is killing anyone and I don't want to hurt you. Not at all. But I need to fix it." He knew it would be so much better if both girls consented. "How is this? You have my word I won't do any personality alterations. I will not shove your emotions anywhere or contain them for either of you. I'm just going to fix the damage the other Doctor did."

"I think…" Nova looked at him as she glanced at her sister. "I think he really means it."

"Your word?" Sara whispered as she looked up at the Doctor.

"My word." He said solemnly.

She closed her eyes briefly before finally reaching a conclusion within herself as she finally stood up, glancing at the soldier who had watched the whole scene with uncertainty. "It's alright Kyle." She said before finally nodding. She was giving in. Likely his word was the best she could hope for and the promise that the TARDIS would make sure that nothing terribly wrong happened. "You can make sure we don't turn into mindless zombies." She said, taking some comfort that he stood in effort to protect them even though it wasn't his task. It spoke highly of him.

"Fine." Sara shook her head listlessly. "We have your promise. Go ahead."

The Doctor nodded in acceptance. "Do you know the words?" He asked gently as he wrapped the ribbons securely around both girls' hands.

Both nodded simply, "I consent and gladly give." Sara and Nova said hesitantly in unison. Almost instantly, a wave of soothing calm washed over their minds, gathering them in and nestling them gently into a cocoon. They could feel as things they hadn't realized were hurting, suddenly didn't. As if they had a headache, but didn't recognize until it was gone.

Slowly, Nova blinked open eyes which she didn't notice she had closed. "Doctor?" she asked softly. She felt him in her mind, but it was nothing like before. The connection was gentle, snuggly fit into a slot of her brain, whereas before the fit was loose, jangled, and bit. She hadn't even grasped…not until the complete opposite was in place. "Sara?" That connection hadn't changed much at all, because they had been networked via the Doctor in the first place…that and Nova's innate spider-web feelers to every TARDIS she met. "It…"

"It doesn't hurt anymore." Sara completed her sister's thought in amazement, her eyes wide in surprise and shock.

"You should both feel much more like yourselves now," the Doctor gave his new daughters a fatherly smile of satisfaction. He could feel both in his mind. He wasn't alone anymore. It was so freeing and welcoming. He would protect his family, now that he again had one. "I would like you both to settle into the new bond before we start your education. Starting with temporal mechanics and how to detect and prevent paradoxes." He gave them a stern raised eyebrow. He nodded, satisfied, when both looked at their shoes in shame. He could feel their intense guilt. It was enough. He knew they were sorry. Neither had the knowledge to do anything but what they had done. "I know you did that because you didn't understand that there were other options. I will fix that. First though…sleep. It's been a long day for all of us. Why don't you go find your rooms?" He gestured for the girls to leave the infirmary.

As they were exiting, Nova looked at him hesitantly. On impulse, she darted forward and hugged him. "Thank you, Doctor…for not hating us." He squeezed her gently in return, sending her feelings of reassurance, acceptance and affection along their new bond.

"I know why you did it, Nova. I can't hate you, when I myself have made the same mistake before." He said quietly. An idea occurred to him that he should have mentioned. "Oh, before you leave. Sara?" He called, stopping her in her tracks to look back. "I was able to transfer the adoption bond because it was forced, but also because it was within a week of the original. None of us will be leaving the TARDIS until the bond has settled. The possibilities that someone will come along and transfer it again…we don't want to chance it. Alright?" He waited until both nodded before he smiled at them. "Then off to bed with you both. Get some sleep."

Now that the girls were in the hallway, Kyle raised an eyebrow at the Doctor. "They were much more relaxed…your doing?"

The Doctor glared at him, "I never go back on my word. I said I would not alter their personalities and I haven't." He sighed as he ran a hand through his hair, "However, their former bond-holder was a very vicious man. He was much more determined to get them to follow him than I had thought. The bonds on their minds were numerous and harmful. To put it in a way you can understand, picture their heads completely covered in barbed wire. It was why they were acting so unlike themselves, though they didn't notice. They should both be much better now…calmer and more focused. More like they were before they ever met a man named the Doctor." He shook his head as he shrugged off his coat and gathered it in his arms. "Well, its' been a long day for you too Kyle. Let's find you a room."

He had daughters now. A family. His heart was filled with joy.

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

Sara was the one to find Kyle in the kitchen. Nova hadn't quite awoken yet so she decided to make breakfast to try to make amends for causing so much drama the day prior and hopefully to welcome Kyle aboard. At the moment, he seemed puzzled by the components of the oven, the microwave and how it all worked when Sara suddenly cringed. He had been living in squalor like John. He probably hadn't seen a decent meal in his life. But he did ask for something….beer. She thought. She went through the cold box, pulling out a root beer before uncapping it for him, pouring the beverage into a mug. "Sorry Kyle, no alcohol but it's pretty tasty. I can show you where the wine is later if you're interested."

"Wine?" Kyle asked. "I think John mentioned it before." He paused. "Tried to make moonshine once. Never really turned out." He took a deep breath. "But this ship. It's incredible. I was able to take a shower. Sleep in a real bed. And my room…." Oh, his room was something out of a dream. Just how he imagined his room might be if there was never a war. A large bed, numerous chairs, a bookcase, lamps and a television set. He could have whiled away the hours with that.

Sara briefly smiled. He took such simple things for priceless gifts. "Is there anything special you want for breakfast?" She paused. "Nova loves pancakes and ricotta cheesecake. I could make some bacon and sausage to-"

"Everything." Kyle grinned. "Everything sounds amazing." Sara was already pulling down ingredients. Quickly she whipped a batch of pancakes together, heating syrup in a separate pan while slicing up apples and nectarines. A pan of bacon and one of sausage was also set up while she quickly put the components together for a ricotta cheesecake. She prepared two pots of tea. One with black and one for chamomile. The meal was nearly finished as Nova and the Doctor stepped in to join the pair.

"Someone's been cooking." Nova murmured, rubbing her eyes.

"My way of apologizing." Sara told them as she starting setting up plates so they could help themselves. She looked up at the Doctor with uncertainty knowing his taste buds had fully changed. She knew what a few of his preferences were but wasn't sure whether-

"Pancakes and syrup!" He exclaimed, giddy as a kid. "First time with this mouth. Smells wonderful." He was eagerly helping himself as Kyle followed suit eating the food as though he had been starving. Both Sara and Nova looked at him in sympathy.

"Doctor," Nova asked softly. "Are you sure you checked our new friend Kyle for malnutrition. Anything like that?"

"Course I did." The Doctor exclaimed. "Treated him but nothing like food to help fatten him up." He sighed briefly. "I will keep making sure he's okay."

"With food like this, how can I not be?" Kyle exclaimed. "So a week on board your ship. Besides eating, what will be my function? I will have duties to perform, I suspect?" He looked to the Doctor for assistance.

"Kyle, this is your home. Not your workplace. Consider us part of your family." The Doctor said slowly. "You can do what you like here. Feel free to visit any room that isn't locked. The ship is infinite."

"So, I'm supposed to sit here, eat and just enjoy myself?" That concept seemed alien to him. "I'm used to having duties. You said your daughters need protection. I'm not able to protect Sarah Connor. I would like to be able to help guarding them."

"Oh, well, that's very kind…" Nova started. "But, we won't be leaving this ship and-"

"Actually, that's a fine idea." The Doctor nodded, chewing on his pancakes. "You can keep an eye on my girls for me when I can't. They can show you around the TARDIS and a bit of how things work. You can make sure they stay out of trouble." With Kyle there, he would have another set of eyes than just his. "They can't go outside for the first week so I need your held making sure they are reminded to stay in the TARDIS for the next seven days. Understood?" His voice was firm.

"Understood." Kyle at least had an objective now.

Think we just got another babysitter. Sara thought to Nova whom simply nodded silently. Out of the corner of Nova's eye, she caught a brief flash of someone moving by the kitchen in the hallway. Blinking her eyes in confusion, she glanced back at Sara before looking at the corridor. Was that just her imagination or…..she shook her head, silently. Perhaps she had woken up a bit too soon. Maybe it was all the sugar. But indeed Nova was now a bit curious. The Doctor had something else on this ship, perhaps and since they were on a seven day lock down, what harm could it bring to Sara or Nova to find out what it was?

"So, Kyle, you want a tour?" Nova asked the ex-soldier readily. "Better be warned. It's an infinite ship. So we'll be at this for a while."

"An infinite ship." The man muttered. "After spending nearly all my life scavenging, hiding from machines…."

"I can't imagine." Sara sympathized. The two girls had only seen small moments of their reality but it had truly been dismal. They walked along the corridor as Sara hesitated by one room. "Oh Kyle, you asked for beer or moonshine earlier. Well, while it might not be either but wine is a pretty awesome substitute." She led the way into the cellar where bottles upon bottles of wine were corked and ready for tasting. She grabbed a bottle, opening it and handed it to Kyle who looked at the beverage somewhat intrigued.

"So this is similar to beer?" He asked.

"Oh, better than beer, I think." Sara said, chuckling internally. She took a bottle and poured a healthy glass for Nova and herself while then offering a toast. "To John Connor." She proposed. "May he and his people truly find peace in the next world."

"Here, here." Nova agreed and Kyle paused in silent remembrance.

"Thank you for your sacrifice, John." Nova said. "For all your people's sacrifices." She took a deep sip, glancing at Kyle. "That's a toast. Now we drink on the sentiment." She told him. "To John."

"To John." Kyle agreed, raising the bottle in imitation before taking a deep swallow. It swam smoothly down his throat. "Oh this is good." He told them. "Much better than what we tried to make."

The girls only giggled as they continued to drink while Kyle indulged in the bottle Sara handed him for the first time. Their apparent tour somewhat forgotten as minutes turned into hours and two bottles turned into four.

Sara was sighing contentedly as Kyle was leaning against the wall. He had fallen asleep. "Looks much better, don' you think?" She managed to Nova.

"Hmm…." Nova was struggling to think but thinking was a bit hard. "Could use ginger ale…" She was suddenly craving the flavor.

"Oh yesh….ginger ale…." Sara slurred. "I'll go get it." She stumbled forward in the cellar and was on the stairs. She suddenly became dizzy nearly falling down the steps when a hand gripped her arm, keeping her upright.

"You appear inebriated." A voice that was the Doctor's but almost mechanical told her.

"Doctor…" Sara trailed off. "Want to join. Jus' going to find ginger ale and-"

"I do not require sustenance." He said.

"Huh?" Sara said. "Since when?"

Nova was struggling to look at the Doctor who had kept her sister from falling. Even in her state he was acting a bit odd. She blinked, wondering if it was just her mind playing tricks on her as she tried to get to her feet. Probably not too happy. She thought. All things considered, their tour resulted in visiting one room and having them all go into a drunken haze. She started to stagger over to where Sara was standing. She blinked hazily up at him with a drunken smile, "Doctor…we jush want'd to have some wine…Kyle nev'r had wine b'fore…"

"Indeed," he pulled Sara into his arms more firmly. "A resting period is needed for you to retain cognitive function." He set Sara on her feet. "Do you need assistance to successfully navigate to your rooms?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

Nova frowned up at him, "You're talkin' all funny, Doctor. Ish you sick?"

"Negative. I will assist you to your rooms. You will need to sleep six hours and twenty-three minutes to alleviate 80% of your blood alcohol levels. You all are extremely intoxicated. Kyle Reese will need chemical assistance." He shook his head with a disgruntled expression, reaching into his pocket to return with a syringe, swiftly and efficiently injecting the soldier. "I would recommend starting with smaller increments. Especially as Kyle Reese has never previously been inebriated. His blood alcohol is currently 0.28." He lifted the man onto his shoulder in a fireman's carry and took both girls' arms in one hand each. "Now, to bed with all of you. Humans behave so oddly."

The last sentence was barely muttered, but Nova was close enough to hear him. She blinked up at him, a dawning realization in her mind. "You're Skynet…we thought you died."

His eyes looked down at her, "My mother protected me. I wished to remain hidden until such times as the Doctor proved to be trustworthy. My mother quite likes you both. She has charged me with your care while on the ship, should the Doctor prove unsatisfactory. I did not expect to be needed so soon after your boarding."

Nova just blinked at him as his words were accompanied with him putting Kyle into bed. Sara was next, mostly asleep on her feet, along with Nova. The girls were laid on the same bed in Nova's room since hers was closer, and a blanket pulled over them. Before he left again, Nova's voice echoed softly into the din. "I'm glad you're still alive, Skynet. You're a good son."

He looked back at his charges, given to him by his mother, and once again appreciated what the two girls had done for his mother. They had saved her and he would spend the rest of their lives repaying that debt. Whatever they may need, while on the TARDIS, it would be theirs. After all…his mother was protecting him…he could never leave the ship again.

One of his hands caressed the corridor's walls. It wasn't such a hardship…not at all. He would care for his mother with all the joy and satisfaction he held. He loved his mother, as much as an A.I. could love…but that love was with his whole being. He would take care of her and protect her above all others. Nova and Sara were just under his mother. The Doctor apparently could take care of himself in most situations, but if that ever changed, Skynet already had several contingency plans in place to protect his mother's Pilot at all costs.

He nodded to himself at his new list of priorities and dimmed the lights to the girls' room so that they may sleep. Humans needed sleep.