The Eleventh Doctor:
"Silence," answered The Doctor, "My silence. Something about me makes them want to quiet me forever." He shrugged a bit, "It's all very confusing Ace. Somewhere between my Ninth body and this one, I became too loud. So, I've gone a bit dark. The woman I've been traveling with recently, she's on a break. Well, when I say a break, I mean that I dropped her off home and told her to get some rest."
"Emilie Gunnar," He clarified, "That's her name. She's like the rest of you lot, curious about everything I show to you. Makes for good fun, I've come to see practically everything at this point, been across the Universe twice over, so when someone comes with me for the first time, seeing the Universe through their eyes is very special."
The Doctor patted Ace's shoulder and said, "She's not as, quick to act as you are, but everyone's different." In honesty, The Doctor missed having Ace with him, she always wanted to know what was going on, and The Doctor was always happy to help her figure it out herself, he'd made sure to it, and because of that Ace had become one of the most capable of his companions.
Ace:
Ace pulled her legs up on the infirmary bed and crossed them, while listening to The Doctor. "They sound serious." to her they also sounded dangerous but she figured he'd already know what she'd say about them so she didn't elaborate on it. She wasn't trying to be mean or anything but she couldn't help but ask "Did you give her the choice to leave or, did you make her leave?" she didn't know if that seemed like a loaded question but it was already out there couldn't be helped, she knew how The Doctor would get sometimes, pushing people away when instead he needed them.
"Emilie Gunnar," Ace made a mental note to add that to the list of companions that she had stored, just incase Emilie sent and S.O.S. or something like what Sarah Jane did sometime. "She sounds like a nice girl, glad you found someone to keep you company."
Ace smirked a little bit when the Doctor patted her on the shoulder, she missed him and the TARDIS, it was one of if not the best home she'd ever had but that time she thought had passed. Reaching up she scratched her eye with her index finger "Ok, enough with the mushy." she chuckled softly. "What's next?"
The Eleventh Doctor:
The Doctor knew the answer to Ace's question was never an easy one to make, "It's only for a week, I'm going back for her. It's another timeline thing that needs to be covered up. She's off with another me at the moment, and if I remember," he tapped his fingers, "In a lot of trouble." A chuckle, "She'll be fine."
"What's next? That's a good question Ace."
The Doctor stood up and sighed, "I suppose, first thing is to bring Sarah Jane back to her current place in time, which would be," he trailed off, studying her to get a better idea of her age, "Back to the Eyes of Zeus? I think so." He turned back to Ace and mused, "The better question, is where are you off to Ace? Have plans? Where shall I be taking you?"
Ace:
Ace started to ask him if it was a younger version of himself or just and alternate one of him, but shook her head and stopped herself, she'd always been on to ask a lot of questions but again there was time for that another time. "If she can hang with you I'd put my money on her that she'll be fine as well."
She clicked her tongue against her teeth "Back to the Eyes of Zeus? I think so." "Ya she said something about being Acquisitions and Public relations on it." Ace shrugged "The better question, is where are you off to Ace? Have plans? Where shall I be taking you?" she raised an eyebrow slightly confused "Me? No I don't have any plans." reaching up Ace scratched the back of her head thinking on it a moment "I guess...you could always just drop me off at my flat." she really didn't have anywhere better to be at the moment and it was the first thing that came to mind. "Or I could always tag along with her for a bit." she nodded towards Sarah Jane "Make sure she stays out of trouble..." she shrugged again.
The Eleventh Doctor:
He wanted to ask Ace to stay, but he knew it would just be holding her back. The Doctor's companions were all more than friends, more than family even. He knew that at a certain point, he had to let them have their own adventures. He couldn't keep Ace from going on to doing what she was going to do, her future was too vast and touched far too many lives for him to interfere.
A bit hypocritical of him to say, given the woman that slept in the other bed. However, The Doctor had learned his lesson there too. Perhaps he'd make a trip to Bannerman Road after he dropped Ace off.
With a nod, he looked to Ace and said, "Wherever you'd like is fine by me. If you're to stay with Sarah Jane, keep her safe for me?" He asked with a small wink, "She tends to wander right into trouble. It'd be good if she had a friend with a baseball bat around to help her out."
Ace:
Ace reached out with her hand a little bit towards The Doctors arm, sorta like a child that watches one of their favorite person becomes sad "Hey, if you want me to stay with you I can for a bit."she wanted to stay with him but first she had to be sure that Sarah Jane was back where she needed to be.
"Look, tell you what how about I stick with her for say what couple weeks just to make sure Alec isn't coming back with anything, as a way with revenge." she smiled "Then I'm sure you can think of a way to come get me and keep it from turning into a paradox."
The Eleventh Doctor:
The Doctor smiled a bit as Ace wrapped her arm around him, "No, I don't think I should keep you from living your life." He chuckled, "You don't even realize the adventures you have coming Ace, how exciting it will all be. You don't have time to waste with an old mad man in a box."
The Doctor looked to Ace as she made such an offer, "Silly woman," he turned her a bit so she could face him, "You don't have to live your life in doing favors for me. You've got such things to do on your own. Don't offer to do something for me Ace, tell me what I should do for you."
Ace:
Ace watched the Doctor for a minute studying his face again trying to see if it was a test or a trick of some kind. She grinned when it became apparent to her that it wasn't and he was being completely genuine "Ok, drop me off with her and I'll manage from there."she looked over to the door to the infirmary trying to remember if her time hopper was in her jacket or in her bag "Oh...though there is one thing you can do for me."she starting patting around in the pockets of her jacket, before she found it "Mind fixing my time hopper then, Alec broke it and it makes bouncing from planet to planet a hell of a whole lot easier."
The Eleventh Doctor:
The Doctor looked at the device, "A vortex manipulator? You poor girl." He made a face, knowing how these turned his stomach whenever he used them, "Not to worry Ace, we'll take Sarah Jane back to her room on her big ship, and then you and I can sit down and have a look at this, alright?" Fixing one of these devices could be a bit tricky. One false move, and the TARDIS could make a big hiccup because of it. He'd need to put his full attention on fixing it, so dropping Sarah Jane off first was important.
Didn't want to end up stuck in time making a bigger paradox. He and Ace could handle fixing this on their own.
Ace:
"Well when you're not around it's my only way to get places, now isn't it."she teased. Truth be told she could always go back into the space fleet if she wanted to, to see places again but she was starting to get content bumming around on earth.
"Not to worry Ace, we'll take Sarah Jane back to her room on her big ship, and then you and I can sit down and have a look at this, alright?" Ace nodded "And I'll make the tea."she was sorry to see Sarah Jane have to go but The Doctor was right, which 99.9% of the time he was but Ace would never tell him that, paradoxes where a whole 'nother box of trouble.
The Eleventh Doctor:
Grinning The Doctor nodded and replied, "Tea sounds amazing. I wonder if I have any Jammy Dodgers left." Musing to himself, he left the infirmary to find a point they could reach Sarah Jane's ship. If he didn't bring her back soon, he'd be tempted to keep her aboard and create a big paradox.
He was also thinking about Ace. Where had she gotten her hands on the Vortex Manipulator? They weren't exactly on sale in the 21st Century. He shrugged it off and plotted a course for the Eyes of Zeus. Fixing the manipulator was way harder than figuring out where Ace had gotten one.
Ace:
Ace watched as The Doctor walked out, shaking her head and smiling slightly "Goof." she laid back on the infirmary bed that she had been sitting on, letting her head hang off the other side slightly, closing her eyes and letting herself drift off for a bit.
The Eleventh Doctor:
With both girls resting, as he'd originally intended, The Doctor was free to track down Sarah Jane's current home, the Eyes of Zeus. As much as he'd love to have her stay with him at the moment, he knew she'd be with him soon. The two of them lived on the term 'good enough'. Seeing each other when they could was all that was they could do. Fate had kept them apart from a continuous life together, however, he could visit her whenever he wanted to.
With the Eyes of Zeus as the chosen destination, The Doctor pulled the ignition lever. The TARDIS gave a while, and he patted the console, "I know, I know, but we both know that she can't stay. Breaks my hearts, yours two, you sentimental old girl."
By know, he was sure the crew of Sarah Jane's ship knew to expect a blue police box materializing now and then. He was sure there wouldn't be much bother. Once they'd landed safely, The Doctor moved to bring Sarah Jane back to a stretcher. Her crew would take care of her, but The Doctor wasn't leaving her side until they had her properly looked after.
When he returned to the infirmary, The Doctor smiled at the sight. Tuckered out companions, both adorable as they rested. The Time Lord lifted Sarah Jane, scooping the petite woman up and carrying her to the stretcher, he was sure that she wouldn't mind if he'd carried her for just a few seconds. It was a matter of wanting to over needing to.
He wheeled her out, back around the corridor and onto the stretcher lift. The Doctor's free hand slipped into Sarah Jane's as he brought her to the TARDIS door. A chuckle threatened to turn into a stammer, "Oh Sarah Jane. Parting is always the worst."
He sighed before bringing her out the door. The staff was there to meet him, he'd expected so. The Doctor nodded to them and said, "I'm not leaving her until she's in her proper place." As the staff took over control of the bed, The Doctor's hand gave Sarah Jane's a soft squeeze.
The Doctor would stay with his Sarah Jane as long as he could.
Ace:
Ace stayed laid back on the infirmary bed listening to her own breathing. Jerking her eyes open when she heard The Doctor leave with Sarah Jane on the stretcher. Ace rolled feet over head off the infirmary bed, crouching slightly when her feet hit the floor.
She went over to a drawer, jerking it open and started to root around in it before finding what she needed and sticking it in her pocket "I'm not a bad person, TARDIS, really. This just isn't something I think he can handle on his own." no matter how many times she keep telling herself that it didn't make her believe it anymore, she really hoped the ship would understand, but could completely understand if she didn't.
Sarah Jane Smith:
It was not his voice, or his touch that roused her from her deep sleep.
It was the TARDIS coming. Was that what was at the end of the big tunnel of light? Wouldn't that be something. Sarah Jane chuckled herself into wakefulness, remembering only belatedly that her last memory had been crawling with rather large and plentiful bugs.
But now she was home, Denean, the medic towered over her bed, looking at some sort of readings
Just as it all came into focus, she realized that the TARDIS was not arriving, it was leaving, she saw the last wave of it's transparent, water color self. The last whirling soft whistle as it spiraled into the Void.
"Ace." she said, surprised to find her voice a whisper. "You did it . . .you did it." The last thing she saw was Denean's face loom, smiling, familiar and reassuring into her own.
"Doctor." She said, near inaudible, eyes a thousand miles away, but her appreciation clear in her tone.
Then she slept again.
The Eleventh Doctor:
Knowing Sarah Jane was resting peacefully with the safety of her crew made him feel a bit relieved, relaxed even. He was in the TARDIS with Ace. All was well, he could let his guard down a drop and take things slowly for an hour or so. Everything was in shape, he just wanted to get out of the Eyes of Zeus, to resist temptations flowing. He did just that, dematerialize out of the ship, not to far away or long ahead.
Now without the temptation to go hunting for Sarah Jane, he could help Ace out with her Vortex Manipulator all would be well. He made his way back to the infirmary, knocking on the door, "Ace, are you still asleep?" He asked quietly, in case she still was.
No response. The Doctor wanted to just peek in, check to see if she was alright. Unsuspecting, he opened the door all the way.
Ace:
She could hear The Doctor coming back and reached into her pocket where she had stuck a blaster earlier, pulling it out she looked at it and turned it to high stun only. "Forgive me." She waited till The Doctor peaked around the corner before pulling the trigger on the blaster and aiming for the center of his chest.
It killed her to do it, it really did but she knew if she told him what she had planned to do, he wouldn't have let her do what she had to do, she had plans for the Silence and none of it was going be pretty.
The Eleventh Doctor:
The Doctor hadn't seen that coming at all. He'd crossed through the door and barely heard Ace ask for his forgiveness before things became uncomfortable and eventually dark. He teetered, vision blurring, "A-ace, what did, you do?"
His eyelids grew heavy, his body even more than his head. The Doctor stumbled, and then did a full out face flop onto the floor. Laying there in a heap, he passed out.
Ace:
Ace moved over to The Doctor quickly, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, but you wouldn't understood if I told you." she laid her head on his back for a second, making sure both his hearts where beating fine. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath of relief when she thought his hearts sounded fine. "Good." getting up she moved over to another set of drawers, searching through it, trying to find some kind of pen and paper. She finally found some and scrawled out a quick note, "I have my reasons, you would have stopped me. Please, don't be mad with me. However, someone has to stop the Silence before they get to close."
Moving back over to The Doctor, Ace took one of the safety pins off of her jacket and pinned it to the back of The Doctors jacket. She'd roll him over, but she didn't want to risk waking him up, even though he was stunned, there was still that chance.
Ace ran down the stairs into the console room skipping the last couple of steps and ran up to the console. She stopped, looking at the levers "Come on Ace. You can remember this." she started moving around the console, throwing levers and flipping switches.
(That's where it ends another story for another day, read and review.)