The Time Lord and the Shaolin's Daughter

The Year that Never Was

by

Sabrina Lonewalker

When Serena was able to touch her husband's mind, she was shocked by what she found. His voice sounded old, tired and he told her to back away. She was stunned, "Love, what has happened to you? I can't hear TARDIS." He sighed, "TARDIS has been stolen." "What? By whom?" His one word chilled her, "The Master." "He's alive?" "Yes, Rene, he is, unfortunately. I'm very glad you are where you are cause he's literally taking over Earth."

"Oh my dearest love. What about Martha and Jack?" The pain in her beloved's voice made her cry, "Martha is away, on a mission for me but Jack, the Master is using him as a play toy, killing him just to watch him come back to life again." Serena felt a deep anger rising in her upon hearing this. "No, how do we stop him?" Theta laughed a little, "You do nothing, my sweet, you are safe, stay that way. It keeps me going knowing that."

Serena nodded, "Ok, Peter and Dad are here too. How can we help you and what has he done to you?" The Doctor smiled, "He's turned TARDIS into a paradox machine so he can take over and, because of that, I'm growing old, physically, to match my age. I'm not your handsome Doctor anymore. Rene." He could hear the tears in Serena's mental voice, "Oh my sweet love, it doesn't matter what you look like, I still love you, always will. Now, how can Shambhala help you?"

He told her the instructions he had given to Martha just before she had escaped from the Valiant. "When the time comes, I'll contact you and this is what I want you all there to do." He told her and she nodded. "My dearest Theta, we'll be back together, I know we will. He can't stop that from happening. I love you, my sweet." "I know, Rene, now, I have to go, he's coming back. I love you." Then, his presence in her mind was gone, again blocked to protect her and Laura.

She sat there, tears streaming down her face at what her beloved was having to endure then, she got to her feet and went to find her Father and brother Micheal. She found them in the temple library and told them exactly what the Doctor had told her. Brother Micheal smiled, "When the moment comes, child, all of Shambhala will join in to save him. He is important to the entire universe. We will do as he has asked."

Serena nodded as Caine held her against him, "You love him, that is stronger than anything this person could do to him." Serena nestled against her father, "He told me about the Master. They were friends once, a long time ago but then, things changed and he became Theta's enemy, going against everything Theta believes in and now, all he wants to do is hurt him. He's blocked his mind from me to protect me. Evidently, he doesn't know about me and Laura, not that he could reach us here but, he could use it against Theta."

Caine held his daughter as she cried, cried for her beloved and what he was being put through. He kissed the top of her head and just held her till her tears stopped. "Thanks, Father, I just can't stand not being there for him.. It's like missing half of myself, he's that much a part of me." Caine smiled, his daughter was deeply in love. He had felt like that after losing his wife, Serena and Peter's mother Laura. He felt like he too had lost half of himself.

Finally, Serena smiled up at her father and went to find her daughter. Laura scrambled over to her mother with a glad cry as Peter went to find their father. "Mommy been cryin." Serena smiled, "Yes, dear, I have because your father is hurting." "Can we help Papa?" Serena smiled, "In fact, Yes, we can help him. Now, here's what he wants us to do." She told Laura the Doctor's plan and Laura giggled, "Good, we can help Papa." "Yes, Serena told her, "All of the people here in Shambhala are going to help Papa too, all at the same time, ok?"

Laura giggled, "Good, good, good, good!" Serena laughed, "Yes, little one that's very good and guess what else?" Laura perked up, "What?" "When all of this is over, Papa will come to pick us up and we can be with him again." Laura let out a loud, "Yay!" and hugged her mother. Serena got to her feet and took her daughter's hand. "Come on, little one, time for your nap and this time, I'll stay with you, ok?" Laura nodded, "Ok, mommy." The two walked back to their rooms.

Two weeks later, Serena woke with a start, it was almost time. She got Laura and walked into the main temple to see all the monks gathered along with her father and brother. Brother Micheal looked at her. "We are ready, Serena." She nodded and the monks arranged themselves in a circle around her and little Laura. At the specificed time, the monks began their chant, only one word, "Doctor" As their chant intnesified, Serena concentrated on her bond with her husband and she felt the life energy flowing through her to him. She smiled as she heard Laura saying "Doctor" over and over again.

After a few minutes, Serena collapsed to the floor, unconscious. Caine picked her up and carried her back to her room. She had expeneded a lot of her own chi to help her husband but Caine knew she needed only to rest. Laura was with her Uncle Peter. Caine turned to Brother Micheal, "Would you stay with her till my return?" Brother Micheal nodded and Caine took the Book back to his kwoon to find the blue police call box waiting in the meditation room. The Doctor stood there looking like he always had.

Cainhe smiled, "It is good to see you again. Serena and Laura are still in Shambhala, are you ready?" The Doctor nodded and the two disappeared in a blinding flash of light.

TBC