Chapter 12
Chelsea opened up her front door and stepped into the house. All of the lights were off except one upstairs. Chelsea discovered that the source of the light was her mother's bedroom. Chelsea knocked on the door and it slowly swung open. "Mum?" She said softly. Chelsea walked into the room and saw her mother sitting on her bed with a shoe box. "What's that?" Chelsea asked, joining her mother on the bed. She didn't respond but Chelsea could see it was a box filled with old photos. The grainy pictures depicted photos of her parents as teenagers and twenty-somethings. "I lost my best friend and it's your fault." Chelsea's mother said. "I'm sorry Mum! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean for anything to happen! Do you really think I want to be like this?!" Chelsea cried. Chelsea's mother ignored her apology and kept blaming he over and over like a broken record. "You did this. It's your fault. He's dead because of you. Why did you do this? You caused this."
Down in the front yard Gabe could hear the shouting match going on between Chelsea and her mother. It frustrated him that Mrs. Smith wouldn't take Chelsea's apology. He turned to The Doctor. "You said there might be something you can do to help?" He asked. The Doctor put his hands in his pockets and nodded his head. "Yes but Chelsea probably won't go for it." He said. Gabe pointed to the open window that the shouting was coming from. "Listen to that. I think you should at least offer." He said. The Doctor agreed and he and Gabe walked up the driveway and went inside. Gabe saw Chelsea sitting on the stairs with her head in her hands. "I thought you were talking to your mum." He said. Chelsea just shook her head. The Doctor sat next to Chelsea and put his arm around her. "I can help her, but I need your approval to do it." He said. Chelsea picked her head up and wiped her eyes. "To do what?" She asked. The Doctor cleared his throat. "I can take away all of her pain. I know it works because I've had to do it before." He said. "But?" Chelsea asked. "Taking away the pain involves taking the memories associated with the pain. So memories of you and your father will be erased. It'll be like she was never even married, she can go find another bloke and have a family and not deal with the grief of being widowed for the rest of her life." The Doctor said. Chelsea sat quietly for a couple of minutes. She thought about her mother's pain and of all the chances she'd lose because of her sadness. A tear slid down her cheek. "Do it." She said.
Chelsea, Gabe, and The Doctor stood in the kitchen. "Gabe go and collect photos from around the house. Any pictures of Chelsea or her dad must go." The Doctor said. Gabe ran off to go complete his task. "Will every memory go? Will it be like a huge chunk of her life is just missing?" Chelsea asked. "All memories not involving your or your father will remain, so that great movie she saw, the girls' night out, the nice relaxing bath all of those will stay and her brain will do its best to fill in the foggy bits." The Doctor replied. "Ok. Let's do it." Chelsea said. "Mrs. Smith!" The Doctor yelled. "Mum!" Chelsea yelled along with him. After yelling over and over, Chelsea's mum finally came downstairs and into the kitchen. "What?" She asked. "Mum The Doctor can help if you let him. He says he can take away all of the hurt you're feeling." Chelsea said. "I'd like to see him try." Chelsea's mother scoffed. The Doctor stepped towards her and placed his hands on her head, placing his thumbs on her temples. He closed his eyes and furrowed his brow. Chelsea's mother began shaking violently. The entire matter only took a minute but to Chelsea it seemed to drag on forever. When The Doctor removed his hands Chelsea's mother collapsed into his arms. Gabe came rushing into the kitchen with a bag full of picture frames and photographs. Chelsea could see the pictures from the shoe box were dumped in there. "Is it over?" He asked. "Yes. Can you help me get her to the couch?" The Doctor asked. Gabe set the bag down and helped The Doctor carry Mrs. Smith out of the kitchen. Chelsea watched the woman who used to be her mother get carried away by the only two people she had left in the world. She noticed the bag of photos lying on the ground. Chelsea grabbed a match from one of the kitchen drawers and struck it. She tossed the match and the bag into the fireplace and watched her mother's memories be engulfed in flames.
After Gabe and The Doctor returned from the living room The Doctor suggested that they leave before Chelsea's mum wakes up. Chelsea and Gabe sat next to each other in the TARDIS while The Doctor stared at a monitor intently. "Now what?" Gabe asked, breaking the heavy silence. The Doctor pushed his monitor aside and turned to face Chelsea and Gabe. He leaned back against the console and crossed his arms. "Come with me Chelsea." He said. "What?" Chelsea asked. "You have so much to learn about yourself and only me to teach you. Being a Time Lord means so much, and you have to know who you are." The Doctor said. Gabe looked at Chelsea. Just by looking at her you could tell that her mind was working out a difficult decision. "I'll come with you. I've got nothing left here." She said. The Doctor smiled, excited at the idea of having company after so long. Words could not explain the feeling he got when he knew that he had found someone who could travel with him for not just their "forever" but for his too.
The rush Gabe was feeling ever since escaping Torchwood Tower disappeared when Chelsea agreed to join The Doctor. He wanted to ask her to stay and not go, but he knew that wasn't fair. Suddenly Chelsea spoke. "Come with us Gabe." She said. Gabe and The Doctor both wore equally shocked expressions. "You're as much a part of this as anyone. Come with us." She said. Gabe looked at Chelsea then at The Doctor. "If you want to come then you're welcome to Gabe. You're a good man, it'd be my pleasure to have you aboard the TARIDS." The Doctor said. "Can I see my family? Once, before I decide." Gabe asked. The Doctor turned back to the console and began flipping switches and smashing buttons. After a moment of violent shaking The Doctor turned back around. He motioned towards the door. Gabe and Chelsea got up and walked towards the door. Gabe pulled it open and saw the inside of his garage. He stepped out of the TARDIS. "Give me a few minutes." He said to Chelsea. She nodded and went back inside, closing the door behind her. Gabe took a deep breath and opened the door to his house.
"Gab!" Ailsa cried when Gabe came through the door. She toddled over to him and waved her arms around. He picked her up and held her. "Why you gone Gab?" She asked him seriously. "I had to help Chelsea." Gabe replied. "Chessie!" Ailsa exclaimed. "Why Chessie need help?" Ailsa asked. "Chelsea was lost and she needed help getting home." Gabe said. "You help Chessie?" Ailsa asked. "Yup." Gabe replied. Before Ailsa could ask another question Gabe's mother and grandmother came into the house from the back porch. "Gabe, honey, you're ok!" Gabe's mother exclaimed, giving him a hug. She took Ailsa from his hands and smiled at him. "Is something wrong?" She asked. "I got the chance to go and travel and see the world." Gabe said. "That's great news!" His mother said cheerfully. "But I'd have to leave now, and I don't know when I'd be back or, if something bad happens, if I'd be back." Gabe said. Gabe's mother's face sunk. "Oh." She said. "Its alright though, I'm not going to go. I have to stay here for you guys." Gabe said. "Oh shut-up ye bampot!" Gabe's grandmother exclaimed. Her outburst shocked everyone including little Ailsa who's eyes were wide as saucers. "Yer going on that trip because I'm tired of seeing yer mopey face around here all day! Go out and live before yer old and full of regret." She said. Gabe looked to his mother once more. "She's right Gabe. You need to go." She said. Gabe grabbed his family and pulled them closed. They all hugged one another until Gabe's grandmother grew tired of affection and pushed everyone away. "Now don't forget to call." Gabe's mother said. "And bring souvenirs." Gabe's grandmother said. "For Ailsa, of course." She added hastily. Gabe kissed his grandmother and told Ailsa to be a good girl and that he'd come home soon. His mother began to cry and Gabe hugged her tightly one more time before kissing her goodbye. Gabe turned to leave and when he was stepping out the door her felt something grab his leg. Ailsa was holding onto to Gabe's pant-leg. "Where is Gab going?" She asked sadly. Gabe crouched down and looked Ailsa in the eyes. "Can you keep a secret Ailsa?" He asked. She nodded her head violently. Gabe pulled her close and whispered in her ear. "I'm going everywhere." He said.