I feel like this chapter is really short, but it has everything I intended to put in it. idk I hope it starts to set the episode up nicely. The next chapter will have more details.

Disclaimer: Nothing of Doctor Who belongs to me...

Sarah Jane Smith was a very observant person. She had to be. She was, after all, an investigative journalist. The time she spent with the Professor and Doctor only served to improve that skill. So when the people she knew best in the world (except Jack, but he seemed like a good enough person even if he flirted a bit too much) walked through her front door, she could tell something was off.

Billie seemed alright, if a little tired, immediately sitting down on the loveseat with Luke when the boy started rambling on about school and his friends. She smiled like she always did, and commented in all the right spots, giving advice to her younger cousin when needed. The Doctor was as chatty as ever, telling Sarah Jane stories of their travels with the assistance of Jack. More often than not, the Doctor would go off on a tangent about the fifth of their group, Josie (who was currently attending her cousin's wedding) and Jack would smile suggestively over his head at her. Clearly something was going on there, but nothing to give her reason to worry.

No, the off feeling she was getting was coming from the Professor. The usually stoic man was even quieter than normal, sitting off to the side by himself and hardly giving a smile in greeting. His eyes constantly darted to where her niece sat curled up near the fireplace, a scowl taking up residence on his face. She was curious as to what was going on there, but refused to butt in to Billie's business. The girl was old enough to handle her own affairs. Though if she asked, her aunt would be more than happy to step in.

"How long has it been?" Sarah Jane finally asked once there was a lull in conversation.

The Professor stayed silent, staring off into space, forcing the Doctor to answer hesitantly, "Almost a year now."

Eyebrows raised, she turned to her niece who was sheepishly staring down into her tea. Now that she was looking closer, Sarah Jane could see the changes in the twenty-four-year-old (twenty-five now, apparently). Oh, she still looked like herself. Long brown hair in complete disarray, jeans, t-shirt, and hoodie instead of nice clothes, bare feet tucked under her.

But there were subtle differences. The dark rings under her eyes that had always been there from her late night reading sessions were darker now. She still sat back, relaxed, but her eyes shifted to exits, making sure they were in sight at all times. Though they were sitting apart (for the first time that Sarah Jane could remember) Billie still seemed to move whenever the Professor shifted, like a satellite, and vice versa. But the biggest difference was her eyes. Those big brown orbs that had always held innocence as well as wisdom seemed a little older, a little more haunted. She knew that there was nothing that could be done to avoid that. It was part of traveling in that blue box. The horrible things she saw would haunt her the rest of her life, but there was something else keeping it at bay. A flicker of light in their depths that spoke of a greater happiness than Billie had ever had while on Earth. Sarah Jane could only imagine how they would light up during an adventure.

"Call home more," was all Sarah Jane could say. Everyone there knew that no matter what had happened during their travels, Billie wouldn't leave. Not anytime soon anyway.

Billie smiled at her aunt and the Professor seemed to relax more in his seat, as if Sarah Jane's acceptance of the unavoidable had reassured him that Billie wouldn't leave him.

"Yes, Auntie Sarah," Billie said dutifully, making Jack chuckle. Promptly, Billie chucked a pillow at him.

The doorbell rang out and Sarah Jane got up to answer, ducking around the pillow Jack sent flying back, but there turned out to be no need. She was half a step out in the hall when the door flew open and Donna Noble burst in. She brushed past the older woman and, shouting a greeting to the room at large, lunged at Billie, wrapping her in a big bear hug as they laughed. Luke quickly slipped out of his seat, instead hopping over to the sofa where Sarah Jane had been seated earlier. Donna plopped down in the now vacated seat and began babbling away at a speed to rival the Doctor's.

"Donna!" Billie finally had to call over her friend's voice. "Calm down! I haven't been gone that long have I?"

"No but still," she shrugged. "You never go anywhere and then suddenly you up and leave after that party. What happened?"

Billie bit her lip, glancing quickly at the Professor, "It's a long story."

"Good," Donna crossed her arms determinedly. "I've always liked your stories."

Billie sighed, turning to her traveling companions for help. The Doctor was smiling widely, enjoying the feisty new company. Or maybe he was just excited to meet a new ginger. It could be anything with him. Jack was too busy ogling Donna to hear any of the conversation. The Professor gave her a small nod. That was all the encouragement she needed.

"Donna this is the Professor–"

"Stop!" Donna's eyes were so wide they looked like they were about to pop out of her skull. "Are you telling me this is the Dumbo that gave you that horrendous coat?"

Billie couldn't help but laugh at the affronted look on the Professor's face.

As her niece caught Donna up on all her adventures (now that Donna knew they weren't all simply stories) Sarah Jane slipped out of the room, heading upstairs. About a week ago, her sister had finally relented, releasing the things Gregory had left for his baby sister when he died. Lizzie had selfishly kept everything from the daughter she no longer had, claiming Billie didn't deserve it as she had long ago abandoned them to live with Sarah Jane.

Now Sarah Jane received a boxful that she was sure wasn't even half of the things left to her niece. Greg and Billie had always been very close, and to have only left her one box of mementoes didn't seem right. But there was nothing she could do. It was better than nothing.

She took the box out from under her bed and hefted it up into her arms. At least it was relatively heavy. That was a good sign.

When she managed to not fall down the stairs and lugged the box in the living room, Donna was finally caught up, sitting in her corner quietly as she mulled over the new stories. Billie, Jack, and the Doctor were discussing something about the TARDIS while Luke listened eagerly. The Professor was looking at Billie sadly. A look of a heartbroken man in mourning, not a look he normally gave her.

"What's that, Sarah Jane?" the Doctor asked, snapping everyone out of their thoughts and focusing their attention on her.

"It's for Billie," she said as gently as she could, placing the box by Billie's feet. "My sister sent it over."

Billie's eyes widened in understanding as she now eyed the box with trepidation.

"Jeanie, you alright?" Jack asked.

She didn't answer.

"Oh no," Donna mumbled, squeezing her friend's hand in support as she caught on. The Doctor looked to Sarah Jane for an explanation, but she stayed silent.

"Billie," the Professor finally spoke, the first time he'd said anything since arriving.

Her eyes snapped up to his and for a moment, the room stood still. She drew in a shaky breath, nodding as she slid off the loveseat and onto the ground. With trembling hands, she flipped open the lid and stared inside for a long while. She hesitantly lifted out a black AC/DC hoodie, holding it up for everyone to see. A small smile graced her otherwise sad expression. Out of the corner of her eye, Sarah Jane saw Jack tense and lean forward slightly, completely enraptured by the simple garment for some inexplicable reason. She'd worry about that later.

Turning back to her niece she saw the young woman press the fabric in her hands to her face, inhaling deeply, "God, it still smells like him."

The Professor slid down to sit next to her, finally getting over whatever had been keeping him at a distance. He looked at her sympathetically, placing a steadying hand on her shoulder. She smiled at him sadly before pulling the hoodie over her head. The Professor wrapped an arm around her shoulders as she reached back in and pulled out shiny silver dog tags hanging on a long chain. She placed that over her head as well and held the tag in her hand, thumb running over the name engraved in the metal.

The next few minutes were passed in silence as Billie slowly went through the last things she had of her brother. When she finished, a framed picture of a young Billie and Greg at a street fair clutched to her chest, she slumped back against the loveseat, her head falling onto the Professor's shoulder.

The room stayed silent, allowing Billie to work through her thoughts and sadness over losing her brother. It obviously still hurt quite a lot, despite the time that had passed. She needed the moment of their silent support.

Which was quickly broken by the shrill ringing of a cell phone.