For just a minute Sarah's heart raced faster at the thought of seeing the Doctor again. Then she realized that John didn't have the least chance of contacting him. Fixing appliances was one thing, jury rigging a device to communicate across space and time was a whole different matter. Yes, he was talented, but this was far beyond what a twentieth-century human could do. Still, she didn't want to hurt his feelings when he so obviously wanted to help. "Well you're free to try it, John," she shrugged. "Just don't get your hopes up too much," she warned him.

"Great," he said, getting even more excited. "I'll get right on it." He practically skipped out of the kitchen and back out to the shop.

"Well," said Lavinia as she turned to Sarah. "One thing's for certain, that boy would do anything to make you happy, even at the cost of his own feelings."

Sarah had been watching John heading out happily to his work shop. "He would, and that's why I have to be careful. I'm afraid I could break his heart, and believe me, that's the last thing I want to do." She sighed. "The Doctor won't come back though, even if by some miracle he did get John's message. He's gotten on with his life and I'm not a part of it anymore. The Doctor doesn't want to remember what happened between us," she said wistfully.

Lavinia squeezed her shoulder. "Then it's his loss," she said, then looked back out to the shop. "And perhaps your gain."

"What?" Sarah looked towards the direction her aunt was looking. "John? Oh, he's very nice and very sweet, but I don't have any romantic feelings about him at all. He's more like a brother or something to me, that's all. I'm just helping him because I'm really fond of him and I feel sort of responsible for him. Believe me, there's nothing more to it than that."

Lavinia looked at her, waiting for her to think about what she was saying.

Sarah almost backed away from her, but instead stood her ground. "Don't look at me like that Aunt. Honestly, he's just a dear friend. I'll never love anyone but the Doctor, even if I never see him again. I couldn't, he's my whole life."

"If you say so," Lavinia said, and went to make herself some tea.

Sarah looked outside at John's work shop once more then shook her head. "I simply couldn't," she mumbled to herself and went back to work.

The next morning, John waited patiently for a break in the Brigadier's schedule so he could ask him a question. Finally, he was ushered in. "Good morning, sir."

The brig looked up from his paperwork. "Good morning Mr. Doe. Is there something I can do for you?"

"Yes, sir, there is," he said, sitting down across from the desk. "I understand that the Doctor left you a device to contact him with."

"Oh that? Yes, well, he never answers it anymore. Useless really, unless you're in need of an anchor or a really heavy doorstop." He looked around his office for it then remembered that he had it removed and put in storage. He turned back to John. "What about it then?"

"Well, sir, if it's useless, I wondered if I might have it. I've got an idea about how to contact him and there are a couple of variables I'm hoping the device can help me eliminate."

"Contact him!" The Brig stood up. "Why the devil would you want to contact him, man? You've just announced your engagement to Miss Smith. Why get him involved? Don't you know that's like inviting disaster into your life?"

John shrank back in his chair, swallowing hard. "Because … well, sir, you see, I want to marry her no matter what, and we're not going to let it stop us, but he sent her a gift. This robot dog. He's amazing, really, but it got to her and I think that until she talks to him and … settles things, she's always going to have this hanging over her head. I want to marry her more than anything, but I'd rather have her happy with him than married to me and wondering what might have been."

"I see," the Brigadier said, recovering his composure. "And is Miss Smith aware of what you're attempting to do?"

"Yes, sir. She told me not to get my hopes up, but we have to try. I just think it's the right thing to do."

The Brigadier raised one eyebrow and scrutinized John for a moment. Whoever he really was, he believed he was John Doe, and it was astounding to think that he'd take this step. "You're a good man, Mister Doe, and I'm glad Miss Smith has accepted you. I'll make arrangements to have the machine sent over to your home. I just hope you know what you're doing," he sighed.

"So do I, sir," John said, relieved. "Oh! And it's Mister Tinker. John Sidney Tinker. Thank you so much for helping with that."

"Ah I see you've chosen a name then. Congratulations, Mr. Tinker. If you're quite ready to fill out the necessary forms, I'll see to it that you receive the proper ID in short order," he smiled at him and extended his hand.

John shook his hand and went back to work.

Sarah Jane sat and looked over the list of things she had to do before the wedding. At the moment she was working on the invitation list. As she sat thinking about who she wanted to invite, she paused. She had never really pictured herself getting married. For years she had never seen herself doing anything but traveling with the Doctor. She couldn't help but wonder now if she would ever see him again, and if she did, what would she say to him?

She wondered about John too. What kind of life would they have? She could see John walking next to her with the baby in his or her pram. They would stop and talk to the neighbors, and everyone would tell them how beautiful the baby was. How normal it all seemed. People would probably assume that they were the perfect couple.

She wondered if she'd spend the rest of her life with a secret longing in her heart for a life that she could never have again. Would time be her friend or her enemy? She had no choice but to wait and see.

She knew John loved her, but what would he be like in a year or two if that love wasn't returned? Would they grow bitter towards each other, just two people going through the pretense of being man and wife, or could they learn to live together as a team, perhaps even a couple? She was so confused and so uncertain. What if her aunt was right about John? Could she ever learn to care enough about him to make it a real marriage? She looked out the window towards the fix-it shop. Did she want to?

She shook her head. How could she even think that anyone but the Doctor could make her life worthwhile again? Whatever was in store for them, they would handle as it came. They would be busy enough raising the baby and of course, they would have being parents in common. She rubbed her hand over her stomach. "I'm so sorry that we won't have your real father little one, but at least you'll be very loved, and we won't be alone."

John stood in his workshop, staring at the large yellow packet that had just arrived via messenger. Inside, he knew, was all of the paperwork the Brigadier had promised him. Identification, birth certificate, everything he needed to … to what?

To be a real person?

He looked at the small velvet box that was all that remained of his old life. Slowly, he picked it up and looked at the engagement ring inside. It still sparkled just as much as it had on the day he'd arrived, and still gave no clues as to the identity of the woman who should be wearing it.

Two lives. To embrace one, he felt he had to give up the other.

He set the envelope on the table, fastidiously lining it up next to the ring and staring at both of them. He and Sarah had both been working so hard to find out who he'd been, to find anyone who might have known him. Now, to start his new life, he had to admit to himself that his old one was gone.

He pulled up his work stool and sat, staring at both items.

Finally, he made his decision, picked up the envelope, and headed back into the house to show Sarah Jane.

Sarah was in the front room humming to herself while she worked. Things were starting to heat up for Nicola Jones and the Doctor in her latest story. At the moment Nicola was teaching the queen how to be liberated and take charge of her kingdom, and she really loved this part. She heard the back door open and sat up. "Hello John." She looked at her watch, still too early for lunch. "Business a bit slow today?"

"No," he said, placing the still sealed envelope on the table. "But UNIT sent this over."

She stared at the packet for a moment. "It's addressed to you. What's in it?"

"My new life, I suppose," he said. He sat down and put his chin on the table, staring at it.

"Well you don't seem very happy about it." She squeezed his hand. "You know you don't have to do this, John, don't you?"

He sat up straight. "Of course, I know I don't have to do this, and I am definitely happy about it. It's just … well, I realized that this is the end of looking for the old me. I don't regret it, it's just a solemn moment, that's all."

"Nonsense, what do you mean the end of looking for the old you? We made a deal, remember? If something or someone from our past life comes back to either of us, we sit down and talk about it and come to terms with it. Besides, I'm not ready to give up on finding out who you really are, even if you are."

He smiled. "You never give up, do you," he said. "I like that about you." He picked up the envelope and tentatively worked his finger under the corner of the flap. "Thank you."

"Just remember John, you're never alone. I'll always be here for you."

Before he could respond, the phone rang.

"Hullo," Sarah answered.

"Good afternoon, Miss Smith, this is PC Davis."

Sarah looked over at John. "PC Davis, what can I do for you?"

"Is Mister Doe still with you?"

"Why yes, he's right here as a matter of fact."

"That's great," the Officer said. "We may have a lead on his identity."