Well here we are. After six months, the final chapter has arrived. I may do a sequel. Big thank you to my three reviewers, especially to Laby Anne Boleyn for being so consistent with reviewing my stories.

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"Forgive me for pointing out the obvious," said Harry, "but if it's going to explode, why are we still standing next to it."
"Good point," said the Doctor.

They ran up the corridor like their lives depended on it. Just like old times thought Sarah.

Then they encountered a problem.

"How on earth are we going to get back up that slide?" Romana said. "Should we find another direction?" The four turned and ran back the way they came, when there was a massive explosion. Sarah was thrown back twenty feet by the force of the blast, coming to rest at the Doctor's feet. It sounded as though something very flammable had been caught in the inferno.

"There's nothing for it!" the Doctor yelled above the noise, lifting Sarah back up to her feet. "We'll have to go back up into the slide. There may be a ladder at the side of it!"

So back they went, unable to breathe properly and eyes watering from the choking smoke. The heat was rapidly becoming uncomfortable, and they had less than ten minutes to get out alive.

Harry spotted the ladder first, but you would have to monkey crawl up half of it. They were already unbelievably tired, and the heat wasn't helping one bit. He pointed this out to the Doctor. The Doctor swung himself up onto it, and vanished out of sight.
"It looks a bit difficult," Romana decided, but up she went. Finally, only Harry and Sarah were left. Sarah looked wretched. She was exhausted and the sojourn with the crystal didn't help one iota. She sank down onto the ground, not caring that if she didn't get out within five minutes, she would die.

"I can't do this Harry. There's no way I can," she murmured. She was nothing like the self confident, strong woman they all knew. Harry didn't want to go the extreme he did, but he had no option. The fire was creeping nearer, and smoke was making it hard to see through.

"Do it for your best friend," he said, looking her in the eye. That did it. Sarah jumped up, and grasped onto the hand ladder, and started her journey up, followed by Harry.

When they finally reached the top, the Doctor and Romana were waiting. The Doctor looked at his companions. They were covered in bruises, scratches and soot. Romana looked very tired, Harry quite pale, and Sarah close to tears. But they were all alive.
They went off back to the TARDIS, and Sarah spoke before the Doctor had even reached the control panel.

"Doctor, me and Harry need to get back from where we left off," she said, launching into the hardest few words of her life. "We said we'd only go for one trip, and it's over and done with."
At this point, Harry tactfully muttered something about going to find his jacket, and Romana about looking for a hairbrush.

The Doctor and Sarah were left alone, for a much needed talk.

"Are you sure you don't want to come, Sarah Jane?" he said, suddenly looking like he did when he arrived in the UNIT office, exhausted and tired.

She also looked as if it was a struggle to move on, but Sarah Jane Smith never went down without a fight.
"I can't Doctor. I've had my time, and if I stay for as long, or longer than I did, then the leaving again will be harder," she said, looking him directly in the eye, and shocked to see the hurt in them.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes." She swallowed. "By the way, did we end up in the right place?"
The Doctor smiled, and checked the coordinates. "Hopefully, we should."

"I'll go and find Harry," Sarah said, feeling her eyes begin to burn with tears. She turned her head so that he didn't see.

Romana passed Sarah as she made her exit. "Are you OK?" she whispered. Sarah nodded, and they heard her rush down the corridor.

The Doctor watched her go. As much as it hurt to admit it, she was right. But that didn't make it hurt any less.

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The TARDIS materialised across from the UNIT HQ. It was fairly dark, and cold outside. Harry and Sarah Jane looked at the Doctor for what would be the last time for a good long while.

"Well, goodbye, Harry. Nice meeting you. And you, Sarah," said Romana.

"You too," said Harry.

Sarah smiled slightly; quite pleased they'd ended up in the right place for once.

"See you, Romana. Bye, Doctor," she said, and on that note they left the TARDIS.

The Doctor and Romana watched them cross the street. It was snowing and they could here Sarah singing "Downtown" as she and Harry headed toward the HQ and the Brigadier.

"Oh bother," the Doctor said, as a thought struck him.

"What?"
"I meant to ask Sarah where I left her that wasn't South Croydon!"

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Bye bye. Be sure to Check out the "Record Room collection." Part two, Beautiful Stranger coming soon.

Marshmallow xxxxxx