Chapter Ten

The Doctor sat on the jump seat, waiting. He had landed the TARDIS outside of Kyoto about a half mile from Shoji's house. Shoji had gone with Alan, Rose and Donna to talk to them and persuade them to come. The Doctor decided to stay behind so he could be ready to power up and get them away from the city the moment he received a telepathic message. The rest of the family had helped Harumi settle in a spare room where she was now taking a nap. Mingxia decide to take a quick one as well and the others were cleaning up the dishes and straightening up everything.

He sensed someone coming in the room and smiled when he saw Jenny.

"Hey, quite a full day so far, eh?" he said. "And we haven't had to do much running yet, imagine that."

Jenny smiled and walked up to him. He scooted over and made room for her on the jump seat.

"Dad, I just wanted to say sorry," she said as she sat down.

He frowned.

"What for?"

She lowered her eyes to the grate.

"For acting like a child earlier."

The Doctor was even more perplexed.

"When did you act like a child?"

She sighed.

"When I was shaking in your arms."

"Oh, Jenny, you didn't act…Angel, what you did was completely justified. A man was being taken apart piece by piece with a handsaw right in front of you. I don't blame you for reacting the way you did especially since you've never seen anything like that before. Love, that wasn't childish in any way."

"I should have been braver like you," she said.

He scooted closer and put his arm around her shoulder.

"Jenny, I nearly vomited all over my trainers," he said, "and so did Alan. I've had centuries of seeing horrors like that and Alan has every single one of my memories and both of us were still horrified. When I took you away from it, it was as much for my benefit as it was for yours. Sweetheart, I knew you'd have a problem with watching it, that's why I told you to turn around and not look. I don't wanna look at things like that, let alone have you see them. Being brave doesn't mean you stand there like a robot and just stare while not feeling anything at all. It's alright to be upset by something like that even to the point of shaking with fear and feeling like you're gonna vomit. There's been countless times in my ten lives that I've been scared half to death at something and yes, even shaken out of fear. You're not a child for doing that; it means you're an emotional, empathetic being. You have nothing to be ashamed of. Frankly, I would have been more disturbed if you'd acted like the crowd and loved it and cheered them on. So don't worry about it. Neither Alan nor I think you're a child, okay?"

She nodded and he gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"Can I ask you something?" Jenny said.

"Sure."

"You remember the day I was born when we were in the prison cell and I was trying to point out to you that you were a soldier."

He chuckled and nodded.

"I asked you if you had ever fought and killed and you said yes."

He nodded.

"What we saw today, is that what you saw when you fought this war you mentioned?"

The Doctor thought for a moment.

"I didn't see what we saw today but yes, I saw a lot of atrocities when I fought."

"And you were terrified?"

"I was terrified throughout the entire Time War, Jenny. Every moment of every day I was scared of what might happen or what I might see around the next corner. When I fought, for the most part, I was completely alone and from one moment to the next I didn't know if I was gonna make it. But I pressed on despite the fear and did what I had to do. That's another thing that brave people do, they feel fear but they do what they need to do even while they're shaking in their boots. Only idiots and nutters go into a war without any fear."

"But why did you fight, Dad?"

"Because I was called upon to do it and it was my sworn duty because the entire universe was at stake. Everything I loved was being threatened by the Daleks and I wasn't about to let my ancient enemies destroy it all. So I did what needed to be done, and that includes destroying my own planet. That's another instance I was terrified. Not only of dying but also because I knew if I survived I would end up the last and I didn't want that. What we do now, your family and me, is what I used to have on a grand scale. I used to be able to feel every single inhabitant of Gallifrey and when it was destroyed all the voices went silent and I nearly went mad. Alan's wife, Rose, was my first companion after that happened and she helped me. She started out a friend and became a lover until I lost her and after that I nearly went mad again because she was my whole world and healed me and turned me into the man you see before you. Then Alan was born after she came back and I left her there with him to take care of him. Then they fell in love and when I found them again, we became friends while I fell in love with your mother. Your mother was the first mind that I linked up with after everything that happened and it was wonderful because I had a small sample of what I used to have and that helped to heal me again along with the friendship and love from everyone on board this ship. Then all of us except Mingxia became Gallifreyan and our minds linked completely and I finally think that I'm back to being the man that I was before the Time War happened. Not completely healed from all the trauma because that will never happen, not after all I've seen, but I'm to a place where I can enjoy life and traveling the way I used to. But actually, to be truthful, it's better than before because I have a family on board with me and I get tons of love and support from them. Whereas it used to be just me and the occasional companion or two."

He smiled.

"And once I figure out a way to turn you into a Time Lady you'll see exactly what I'm talking about," he said, rubbing her arm. "When you're able to feel everyone's mind in your own you'll see how truly wonderful it is."

Brother, we're on our way back. We have Shoji's parents with us.

Okay, I'll power up the TARDIS, hurry.

"Speaking of how wonderful it is to have other Time Lords and Ladies about, your uncle just contacted me telepathically. They have Shoji's mum and dad and they're coming back so you sit here and keep me company and I'll start the TARDIS."

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The door opened and the Doctor and Jenny stepped around the console when Shoji led his parents across the threshold and up the ramp. Both of them stared at the console room in awe while Alan let the rest of them come inside and shut the door behind them.

"Mother, father, this is the Doctor. He's the other brother who saved me," he said, pointing to him.

The Doctor bowed low.

"It's an honor," he said as Jenny followed suit. "This is my daughter, Jenny, and if you wait a moment, I'll gather the rest of my family out here."

He sent a telepathic summons to them.

"So, may I ask your names?" he said after he finished.

The man smiled.

"I am Jiro," he said.

"And I am Kameko," the woman said.

The Doctor bowed again. His family came through the door and the Doctor formally introduced them all. They all bowed in return.

Rose stepped up to them.

"Would you like some tea while we ride to Hokkaido?" she asked them.

They nodded.

"Follow us please," she replied.

The Doctor stepped back and everyone except Alan led them to the living room. He walked over to the console with him.

"Brother, Shoji needed an explanation for all of this to give to his parents so he told them we were kami and that we had answered his and Harumi's prayers and came from the spirit world to save them and take them to safety. He told me privately that he knows we're not, but his parents were more likely to get on board the TARDIS if they thought we were benevolent spirits. So just in case you hear them call you kami, that's why."

The Doctor nodded.

"I don't know why I insisted that Harumi not call us sorcerers," he said while they rushed around the console and took the ship into the vortex. "That's the only way she knows how to explain all this, just like Shoji had to tell his parents we were kami. I should have kept my mouth shut and just let Harumi believe we were sorcerers, would have said me a lot of wasted breath."

"Ah, but wasted breath is what you're famous for, Te'lesau," Alan said, winking.

The Doctor chuckled. Alan gave him the location of the sisters' houses and he set the coordinates. While they flew it, he filled him in on what Jenny had said. Alan shook his head.

"I have a feeling that's part of that damned programming they gave her in the machine. I'm sure they programmed her not to be afraid so she'd jump right in there and annihilate the Hath. So naturally, if she feels fear now she gets confused and thinks it's childish and cowardly."

"I have a feeling you're right, Alan. Which is why I want it fixed so she can be a normal Time Lady. For the thousandth time, damn them for messing with my genetics and messing up her DNA!"

The TARDIS landed and powered down. He checked the monitor.

"Takikawa, right?"

"That's the one."

"We're here then. But we'll let them rest a minute and have a cuppa to calm their nerves. In the meantime, I'll have a quick dekko and see where we parked."

He looked out the door and saw they were in a field about a half mile from a large village. He looked all around but no one else was in sight. He went back in and shut the door.

"Think it's that way," he said pointing off to his left. "'Bout a half mile, give or take. After this, I say we head back into the vortex and leave Japan behind before we do get nabbed."

"Fine with me."

He and his brother sat on the jump seat.

"I noticed they didn't say anything about us being twins."

"Oh, trust me, we thoroughly prepared them for that," Alan said.

He smiled while he and his brother put their feet up on the rim. He glanced up at the ceiling.

"Twins bring disaster to their family. I hope that doesn't apply to us and our family."

"Why?" Alan asked. "Do you think we do?"

"I hope not but sometimes I wonder."

Alan shrugged.

"I don't think we do. If you're referring to the trouble that follows us, that's just part and parcel of the work we do. Doesn't mean we're disaster magnets or bad luck or ill omens or whatever else they believe twins are. Anyway, we're not twins in the traditional sense of the word. I doubt whoever thought that up had clones in mind. It's just superstitious Earth rubbish, brother. You know better than to believe that kind of malarkey."

"I know but I couldn't help but think of that when he mentioned the whole bringing disaster to families bit."

Alan sighed and put his hand on his brother's shoulder.

"For the last time, Te'lesau," he said to him, "quit thinking that the moment you have some shred of happiness the sky is gonna fall and destroy it. Nothing is gonna happen. You aren't gonna lose them or me. We're not going anywhere so stop thinking that way."

He nodded.

"I know, brother, but old habits die hard."

"I understand completely, but you have to quit that. You can't go around your entire lives thinking there's a black raincloud over your head with a lightning bolt just poised to strike. Believe it or not, every once in a great while, the sun does choose to shine on you which is why you have a family of seven traveling with you now."

"Love?" Rain said as she walked through the back door.

"And here's a huge ray of sunshine right now!" Alan said pointing at her.

Rain stopped and giggled.

"I'm not sunshine, I'm Rain, remember."

"Hardy har har," Alan said while she and the Doctor laughed. "For purposes of our discussion, you are sunshine and let's leave it at that."

"Okay, fine with me," Rain said, shrugging, while she walked up beside her husband.

She gave him a kiss.

"It just astounds me how confident you are that that's your husband when we're both wearing the exact same thing," Alan said to her.

"I told you, it's your eyes, I can tell who is who by your eyes."

They looked at each other.

"I don't see a difference," Alan said, shrugging.

"You don't see how ancient they are?"

"No, I see how beady they are."

He ducked when the Doctor smacked his head.

"I'm glad you know who's who though. Makes it much easier on me and less painful since I don't want the wife beating my brains out when she accidentally walks in on you kissing me."

"Nah, I'll never make that mistake. Besides you don't even smell the same."

They both stared at her.

"Brother dear smell a bit manky, does he?" Alan said.

"I assume manky means rotten or something similar to that."

"Eh, yeah, along those lines."

"Nope, he smells very good."

"And what do I smell like?"

She grinned and got down in his ear.

"The universe."

Alan giggled when the Doctor raised his eyebrow.

"Really? I just took a shower this morning. You sure it's not my Old Spice?"

"Sure it's not his bean burrito farts? You know how much the man loves his Mexican food," Alan said.

"Okay, you two," she said as they bent over laughing.

The Doctor took an experimental whiff of the side of his left hand.

"I smell like I normally smell," he said to Alan.

"Which I think is her point, brother."

He sniffed again and looked at her with bulging eyes.

"This is the smell of the universe?" he said holding his hand up to her.

Rain eyed him while Alan laughed hysterically.

"I give up, alright? You don't understand. It's not your hand, it's you. It's time and space; it permeates your very being, alright?"

"Sure it's not his dysentery? Traveling all over time and space eating the food and drinking the water has given him a continuous case of the trots and the scat does tend to smell after awhile especially if he doesn't catch it in time and he gets soiled Y-fronts."

"Grow up!" she said as they howled with laughter. "Oh God, you guys are disgusting sometimes. Look, I was coming out here to tell you that we're ready to go to Shoji's sisters' houses whenever you want to go but if you're gonna be gross and mock me, I'm going in back with the others."

"Oooooh, come 'ere," the Doctor said, leaping up behind her and taking her around the middle when she started to walk away. "I'm sorry we had a laugh at your expense. I believe you about the whole smelling like the universe and ancient eyes thing. Won't be the first time someone said something like that to me.

He gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"I'm glad that my whole smelling like the universe thing pleases you," he said looking over her shoulder. "As for his parents, we're ready when you lot are. So you just take your smell of milk and honey shampoo and body wash back to the living room and inform them we're ready? Okay, Latara?"

She nodded and they shared a kiss before she walked off. The Doctor sat back down and watched her go. Once she was out of earshot, he laughed and looked at his brother.

"Continuous case of the trots? Brilliant!" he said to him.