~24~
The TARDIS
The Doctor followed the Master through the halls of the TARDIS; he observed the tenseness in the Master's body language. Neither spoke. For a single moment the Doctor was reminded of the time shortly after Livinia left: trailing the Master as they argued over what they could have done differently. Now, like then, the Doctor wanted nothing more than to take the Master in his arms and make his worry, pain, and anger disappear.
Ten minutes later they were still walking to the control room, though now the Doctor was walking beside the Master. Stealing glances every now and then, he tried to think of something to calm the Master, whose mind was probably still on the events of the past few days. Thinking back, the Doctor remembered his words to Jack and Martha on the Valiant, about having someone to care for. He was ecstatic of his newfound family, glad to know the truth behind Livinia staying away, but in the here and now, his mind was focused on the man walking alongside him.
The Doctor had an idea to help the Master, it was probably neither the best idea nor the ideal solution for the Master's worry, but it was the only thing that had worked in the past. Stopping suddenly, the Doctor grabbed the Master's hand causing the Master to look at him with an arched eyebrow and stopped as well. Quickly, before his mind came up with all the reasons why this was a bad idea and without thinking of the consequences, the Doctor backed the Master into the wall behind him and kissed him. Thankfully, the Master was too surprised to immediately push the Doctor away and the Doctor was able to revel in the feel of the Master's lips against his own. Seconds later the Master put his hands on the Doctor's arms, the Doctor braced himself for violent reaction he knew was coming but instead the Master gripped his arms like the Doctor was the only thing keeping him standing.
Smiling slightly, the Doctor moved his mouth from the Master's, down his jaw and began to lavish attention on the Master's neck.
"What're you doing?" the Master questioned.
Not wanting to move his mouth from where it was, the Doctor answered mentally, 'What does it look like?'
Gasping faintly the Master replied, "This isn't going to make things better, you know. It's not going to change anything either."
Before the Doctor could respond, another consciousness violently entered their minds. It took a second for them to realize it and when they did, they both looked at each other and said, "Caeli!"
Together they ran to the control room, the Doctor unconsciously grabbing the Master's hand along the way, wanting nothing more than to get to their great-granddaughter. They had just arrived when the scared voice of their daughter entered their minds, 'Dad?! Papa?!'
'We know, Livinia, we're on our way' the Doctor told Livinia.
'You'd better be on your way to pick up John, Shawn, and me.' Even though she wasn't there, the Doctor could easily picture Livinia standing with her hands on her hips.
'Where else would we be going?' the Master sarcastically responded yanking his hand from the Doctor's grasp.
Before Livinia could retort, the Doctor asked, 'Where and when exactly are you?'
'Its 6:35 pm PST and we're standing outside the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.'
'Right, we'll be there soon.'
The conversation ended and the Doctor and Master started the process of flying the TARDIS to Santa Barbara. They worked in silence, moving seamlessly around the consol pressing buttons, flipping switches, or turning handles when needed. Minutes later, they had landed. Stepping outside of the TARDIS, the Doctor realized he landed her on a street corner, which thankfully wasn't very busy. Livinia stood a little ways away, leaning against a light pole. Near her was a young man, who had to be Shawn, sitting on the curb, John was no where in sight.
Coming up behind Livinia, the Doctor asked, "Where's John?"
Without turning around, Livinia said, "You're late," instead of answering his question.
"You didn't really expect us to be on time traveling in this obsolete piece of junk, did you?" the Master asked pointing to the TARDIS behind him.
Before either the Doctor or Livinia could respond, Shawn whispered, "John's on his way back, he's totally not happy." Looking up he saw his great-grandparents standing above him, "So you'd be the other two people now taking up residence in my head?" His head cocked to the side as if listening to something, than an amused expression crossed his face, "Wow, in denial much?" he asked the two of them.
The Doctor and Master looked at Shawn confused than at each other, the same thought passed through their minds, 'Which side of the family does this come from?' They turned to Livinia looking for answers; she merely shrugged her shoulders in response, 'This is as new to me as it is to you. Though Shawn's been making these types of predictions since he woke up.'
This was new territory for all of them; there had never been a Timelord-Lantean child before (at least to their knowledge). There would be no telling what abilities the children would have.
Shawn wasn't paying attention to the adults and their silent conversation, instead his gaze was focused on John, who was quickly approaching. John had a worried expression on his face and before anyone could ask, he said, "We need to be in Eureka now," while looking to the Doctor, Master, and Livinia expectantly.
Without a word the Doctor steered everyone into the TARDIS. John was too worried and Shawn was still getting over the drugs his doctor insisted on giving him before leaving the hospital to either notice or care that they were heading into a Police Box. Upon entering and seeing it was bigger on the inside the two merely raised an eyebrow in question, yet neither wanted an explanation. The Doctor motioned for the Master and Livinia to join him at the console and together the three piloted the TARDIS.
With three experienced Timelords, the ride was a lot smoother than any ride the Doctor had been on since he stole the TARDIS all those years ago. Within seconds the TARDIS had landed in Eureka, in unison they moved toward the door. Before the doors were opened, Livinia turned to her grandsons and said, "You're staying here, we don't need Nathan and Caeli to be put under any more stress than they already are," she switched her gaze to her fathers and continued without pausing, "and you two, let me do the talking. I know Allison; know how to make her see reason." Though they looked like they wanted to protest, the four men looked at her with her hands on her hips and barely made eye contact with each other before agreeing with their daughter/grandmother.
The three Timelords exited the TARDIS and were greeted with exclamations ranging from shock, "Livinia?", to disbelief, "What the hell?"
The Doctor's focus was on Nathan who was being held down by Owen and a man in a law enforcement uniform, while Nathan was trying very hard to escape their grasps. The Master's attention was instead on Caeli who was staring unfocusedly on the ceiling; Caeli whose lips were in constant motion though her words were barely audible. Livinia called Allison away from Caeli's side over to her and began talking earnestly, explaining why they were going to take Nathan and Caeli.
The two Timelords shared a look before walking to their great-grandchildren, the Doctor to Nathan, the Master to Caeli. He walked over and stood next to Owen, he was in the process of putting his fingers on Nathan's forehead to directly telepathically connect with him when the officer asked, "What are you doing?"
The Doctor merely looked up at him and raised an eyebrow, not really wanting to explain to this human that his friend was part alien.
Thankfully, Owen spoke before the Doctor could open his mouth and probably make a rude comment, "Sheriff, he can help," at the sheriff's disbelieving look, Owen added softly but sincerely, "Jack, he's family." The sheriff still didn't look convinced, but didn't make anymore complaints about the Doctor's help.
He gently put his fingers on Nathan's forehead and entered his mind to try to force him into unconsciousness and calm him down, but within minutes had to withdraw because Nathan's mind was far more complicated than the Doctor expected for a half human with no mental training. He looked up, trying to make eye contact with the Master but instead caught Owen's gaze, it took him a moment to recognize the look in Owen's eyes and when he did, his hearts skipped a beat. It was the look Koschei had, begging him to put an end to their fighting, begging him not to give up searching for Livinia, and later begging him not to leave. It was the look in Livinia's eyes when she wanted their support with Janus, begging them to explain to her why she and Janus could never be. And now, here was the same look, centuries later in his great-grandson's eyes begging him to make his brother and sister all right.