London, 2006

As Sarah Jane approached the drive that led to Deffry Vale High School, she was anticipating the thrill of the hunt. 'Nothing like an investigative search to brighten one's spirits,' she thought to herself. From the very moment she was led into the headmaster's office, she could smell conspiracy lurking. She smiled as sweetly as she could as she shook the man's hand. She knew if she could get on his good side, things would go a lot more smoothly for her.

"I can't tell you how much I've been looking forward to meeting you, Mr. Finch. I think you're the perfect man for me to do a profile on. After all, you're young and attractive, and you've made some fascinating improvements in a school that's well known for sticking to tradition, despite all the other schools rushing to modernize."

Finch motioned for her to take a seat and smiled smoothly at her, taking his own seat. "Thank you, Miss Smith. I'm so pleased to be able to show the educational establishment how it's possible to blend the old with the new, incorporating innovation without completely disregarding the cherished traditions of the past."

"If you don't mind, I'd like to interview you for a while, and then if I may, I'd like to talk to some of the teachers and the students for a time. I'm sure given the results of your work, they'll all have glowing reports concerning you and all you've done. Right now, I'm thinking that there could be a front page story about you in all of this, Mr. Finch. In fact, I'm almost positive of it," She smiled warmly at him.

When Sarah Jane had finished with the headmaster, he offered to personally take her inside and introduce her to the staff, informing her that this was the time of day that most of them could be found in the teacher's lounge.

As Mr. Finch proudly announced that Sarah was here to write a story featuring him, she started looking around to see which teacher looked most interested in talking to her. She spotted a fairly attractive young man who was looking at her with a somewhat pleased and eager expression on his face, and she walked over to introduce herself.

As she got closer to him, she paused. She was starting to remember something. She had the feeling that somehow, though it didn't seem possible, she knew him from somewhere. She felt as though she were waking from a dream that was so real that even though she was awake, it still seemed to be happening. Yes, she did know him, but from a time that was hazy in her memory. He was someone she had until this moment only dreamed about. Was this really the man she'd dreamt about all those years ago? It seemed so real. But it was so long ago, and she was so young. And the magic blue box. Was it the TARDIS? Or had she just infused such a beautiful dream with the magic of her time with the Doctor? Or ... could it be that it had really been him? Had he gone back to his past to save her? Because that would mean this man, this young man grinning at her like an idiot, was the Doctor. She decided to remain calm and act as if she didn't know him. Obviously, if he was the Doctor, he was here undercover, the same as she was.

Sarah Jane remained outwardly calm as she extended a hand to the man. "Hullo."

The Doctor had been trying to elicit some information from one of the school's history professors without giving away his own part in the mystery when suddenly his breath caught in his throat. Sarah Jane Smith? It couldn't be. But it was. Right there in front of him. All at once everything his fourth incarnation had felt about her, all the love, all the longing, it was right there, in his chest, screaming to get out. He wanted to just grab her and pull her into the biggest hug he'd ever given her. Unfortunately, he knew that he couldn't do that here. She'd said something to him, he knew that, but what was it? He'd been so focused on the fact that she was here, she was really here, that he hadn't actually heard her. "I should think so," he guessed.

She smiled at his obvious confusion. It must be him, he's so flustered at the sight of me after all this time. "And you are?"

Of course she didn't recognize him, he'd regenerated so many times since he saw her last. He caught the words, "The Doctor" just as they were about to leave his mouth. "Hm?" Oh, what she did to him. What was his name again? "Um ... Smith... John Smith."'

She almost laughed at that. Oh how she wanted to hug him and bury her head in his shoulder. Silly really, pretending not to know each other, still, must keep up the right appearances. "John Smith. I used to have a friend who sometimes went by that name."

'She remembers me!' he thought, then 'Of course she remembers you, you dolt. She was your life for six years, before you were a fool and let her go.' He wondered, was that fondness in her eyes? Did she, miracle of miracles, forgive him? "Well, it's a very common name."

Oh, the look he was giving her was absolutely melting her away. 'Really Doctor, not fair, to look at a girl that way, and then expect her not to react' Well, she'd just flash him a big warm smile back and see how he handled it. "He was a very uncommon man. Nice to meet you."

That was a smile, he knew it was! Maybe she did forgive him. Oh, how he wanted to just grab her hand and run for all he was worth down the corridors with her. But no, must keep up appearances. "Nice to meet you. Yes. Very nice. More than nice. Brilliant!"

Honestly, he was gushing at her, and she started getting weak in the knees at the sight of him like that! Now it was her turn to be totally caught off guard. She knew she should say something, anything, before someone got suspicious. Better try to get on with her investigation. "So, um, have you worked here long?"

Oh, that look in her eye. She was just ramping up. He knew that look so well. "No. Um ... it's only my second day."

So they'd practically arrived together. How fitting. "Oh, you're new, then. So, what do you think of the school? I mean, this new curriculum? So many children getting ill? Doesn't that strike you as odd?"

And there she goes. That incurable streak of curiosity, that insatiable need to know everything. Oh, how he loved that! "You don't sound like somebody just doing a profile." He knew he was grinning like mad, but he didn't even try to stop.

'This is ridiculous,' Sarah Jane thought. Fine setting for it though. She was definitely feeling like a school girl who had just developed a maddening crush on the new boy. One last remark and she'd remove herself from the conversation, before she made a complete fool of herself. She had made up her mind however, that as soon as possible, she was going to find a way to talk to him alone. "Well, no harm in a little investigation, while I'm here."

"No. Good for you. Good for you." He watched her move on to another teacher, feeling like the whole universe had suddenly righted itself. "Oh, good for you, Sarah Jane Smith."