I think it should be known by all that I do not own Doctor Who
The Doctor missed traveling, he missed being able to pilot his TARDIS to any star and just wander. But that dream, one he'd had since he was a young boy on Gallifrey, was put on hold due to his exile on Earth. He was only in his third body and yet they tried to keep him on one planet, in one star system, in one universe.
He sighed and sipped his tea as he looked up at the stars. He'd been here a few Earth months and while he'd always recognized the major star clusters in this sector, he'd really come to know them well in his time stranded here. He'd almost enjoyed it at first, the chance to study the stars from a different perspective, to try and see them as the romantic humans saw them. That naïve curiosity lasted almost two weeks before he was ready to move on but still his mind was blank and his TARDIS remained immobile.
Oh what he would give to just leave everything here like he had on Gallifrey, leave U.N.I.T, leave the ignorant humans, and the day in and day out of monotonous drivel this planet offered. All he wanted to do was return to his wanderings.
"Doctor!" He turned and smiled slightly to see Jo running up the hill with a large bundle in her hands. Even at such a distance he could see the warm glow of her excited face. "Are you stargazing?"
"Yes Jo, I was just sitting out here and enjoying the view. It's a lovely night out tonight; I haven't seen a clearer night since…" Since he had control of his TARDIS, since he could see a beautiful night every night thanks to his time machine, since he was free. "Is there something you need? Some emergency the Brigadier needs me to take a look at?" She had now reached him and he could see that the bundle she held was in fact a load of blankets.
"No, the Brigadier mentioned that you come out here a lot instead of sleeping so I thought you might like some blankets. Winter is coming fast and there's a bit of a chill in the air." The Doctor chuckled warmly, he wasn't cold in the slightest, a byproduct of his body's superior energy conservation but the thought was much appreciated.
"Oh why thank you Jo, that's very sweet of you dear." She grinned again and arranged the blankets until she thought he was comfortable. Once she was finished, she looked down and began playing nervously with her hands.
"Is um is there anything else I can get for you Doctor?" She wanted an invitation to stay he realized, well why would she want to do that? Why would a pretty young thing like Jo Grant be interested in spending time with a bitter, old scientist? He frowned a bit; he knew she didn't have much in the way of family and she seemed to spend every moment of her time working with him. Could this little human have picked him as part of a surrogate family? He smiled, well how about that.
"No, no Jo, here, why don't you take a seat next to me? You've brought enough blankets to fend off the ice-age so there's more than enough for us to share." She smiled and happily sat down not even hesitating before cuddling up close to him. He blushed a little bit at the open display of affection before relaxing and wrapping one arm around her shoulders. It was just one planet of one star system in one universe but the Earth did have one thing that he would never find anywhere else, it had the most wonderful assistant who reminded him how important family was to him.
"Now Jo you see that big bright star up there?"
"Yeah."
"That's the pole star and did you know it's actually two stars, one day I'll show you once I get my TARDIS working again, it's quite lovely if I do say so myself." She grinned again as he pointed out more stars and the stories behind them. Yes maybe he could deal with the Earth just a little longer, maybe then he'll regain some of the wonder Jo had sparkling in her eyes and he thinks that might be a good thing.
I know everyone loves Sarah Jane Smith, but I'm awfully fond of Jo Grant. She wasn't brilliant like Liz Shaw or witty like Sarah, but Jo was so terribly likable. She was kind and sweet, she occasionally messed up and she tried ever so hard to please the Doctor and U.N.I.T. I felt she seemed very real, curious and confused. She and the Third Doctor are one of my favorite teams just because how well they worked together. Just as Rose would eventually make Nine better, I feel that Jo opened Three up to the loving compassion of humanity and when Four tells Romana that humans are his favorite species, I'd like to think he was thinking of Jo among other people. Sorry, Jo Grant just needs more love. Hope you all enjoyed!