Nora and Addie stood in front of both the men they adored, trying hard not to burst out laughing. Robbie barely came up to Daniel's hip but stood ramrod straight copying Daniel's stance. Both stood in the back dressing room of the small men's shop, dressed in green and black kilts with identical Prince Charlie jackets with three gold buttons going up each sleeve. They both wore black waistcoats secured by three buttons. The thought of keeping white dress shirt spotless from two people with a penchant for sticking their fingers in things was daunting. Both wore black silk bow ties. A miniature copy of Daniel's leather pouch hung from Robbie's little waist. Both wore plaids pulled under their left arms and secured at the top of their right shoulder with silver clasps. Nora imagined Robbie using his as a napkin, but standing next to Daniel in this moment, he was adorable. With perfectly neutral expressions, she and Addie walked around them, studying them as if they were display models. Nora couldn't resist making adoring clucking noises at the way they looked from the back. They had opted for nice dress shoes, but she insisted that they have plaid garters for their knee highs. If they were going to go all Scottish, then they would look the part.

"Mummy, why do I have to wear a purse? A guy doesn't wear a purse," Robbie whinged.

"Not a purse, Robbie," Daniel explained, "this called a sporran and they're cool. You can hide stuff in them, like surprisingly large pockets. You know, an Inverness cape would look good. I'd look like Sherlock Holmes." Daniel giggled.

"Right, you would cut a dashing figure," Nora laughed. "Daniel, are you sure you want to go regimental? I'm not sure Robbie should, he's might hike the kilt just to show off he's starkers underneath."

"Mum, I won't do that. Girls are gonna be there," Robbie protested. "The man says you have to put a kilt knife on to hold it down."

"Pin, Robbie, it's a kilt pin and it's just a decoration. You are not wearing a knife."

"Aw, can't we let him a fake one, maybe in his stocking. C'mon Nora, it would be cool. Think of Jackie Tyler's face when the two of us come walking out dressed properly Scottish." Daniel glanced at the salesman who went and brought back a short fake knife that, from a distance, looked real.

"Now lad," he intoned seriously. "This is by no means a toy. You can't be takin' it out and wavin' it about. We call this a Sgian Dubh. Can you say that for me," the salesman instructed.

"Skeen' Doo," Robbie answered.

"That's good. Wearin' one of these shows the English that you are a proper Scots, so you don't want to be goin' down there and makin them think that you are some heathen coming to visit." When the salesman glanced up at Nora, his eyes twinkled with suppressed humour. He'd obviously dealt with the safety issue many times before. He leaned close to Robbie pretending to give him serious advice. "When you are starkers under a kilt, a smack on the bum stings more, so you don't want to do anything to upset your mum and dad, do ya."

"No." Robbie shook his head and then looked up at Daniel. "Is dad going to have a fake one?"

"No, your da' will have a real one. So you both best be on your best behaviour, yeah?"

"Yeah, mum will smack both of us - hard," Robbie giggled. "Then they cuddle."

"Right then," Daniel stepped in to change the flow of conversation. "So, that's two knives with sock sleeves. Nora, Robbie and I will go change while Mr ..."

"Henderson."

"Right, Mr Henderson can ring us up. C'mon, Robbie, jeans, jumpers and wellies await. And pants, we don't want to forget our pants."

o0o

Daniel stared at his image in the bathroom mirror, wincing when he touched the bruise that now spread across his forehead. The knot was smaller and the cut wasn't too bad. Hopefully, it wouldn't leave a scar. If it did, he would no longer be a mirror reflection of the Doctor. He rubbed his temple against the nagging headache that had persisted since the nightmare escapade in the snow. He'd managed most of the day to keep the achy feeling hidden, even pretending to be a little chuffed at not driving; but truth told, he was glad. He didn't feel up to the natural stress that came with driving. He hadn't felt the Doctor's presence all day, and had no idea what that meant, but it probably wasn't good.

Daniel let out a soft sigh and pushed away from the sink. When he walked out of the bathroom, he could hear Robbie and Finn chasing each other in the lounge. The sound eased the ache of unexpected loneliness. Daniel smiled and headed for the office. Just walking in the office lately eased his uneasiness. The baby coral was growing larger and stronger everyday. He could feel her trying so hard to connect. He made a quick check the mister. Two weeks was a long time to be away from the precious infant.

"Hey you," he whispered in Gallifreyan, "I'm going to be gone for a couple of weeks, so no daily chats. But don't worry, I've set the mister timer to make sure you're fed right on time like always, plus I've set up the recorder to play back some of our better Gallifreyan conversations. I have also left a recording of Gallifrey's history and a history of the TARDIS. One hour a day, each a day, so you won't get behind on your studies. And, with no one around, I can turn the volume up a bit. So, I need you to think pleasant thoughts for me while I'm gone. I wish I knew if you could feel your mother and him. If there is some way to know how they're doing, it would be a relief, you know. It's not like you could ever tell me, but ... anyway."

He squatted by the crèche, marvelling at how much she'd grown in the last few weeks. From the tiny twelve centimetre brownish, pink coral he'd received on the beach, she was now almost forty-five centimetres. Unable to resist, he reached over and gently traced an index finger along the coral's rough surface. He loved to feel the tingling sensation from her life source. It made the hair on his arms stand up, reminding him that she was indeed a living, sentient being. If only she could talk. He closed his eyes, let his shields down and opened his mind for the golden thread to worm its way across his consciousness. This was his time of day to remind himself that he was still a Time Lord, not simply the clone of a Time Lord. Seconds stretched out as she started the bonding thread. It coiled around his memories showing him timelines bending and blending. She never showed him, anything other than a general time line for the planet, but it was enough. Just her ability to do that amazed him. The local source of rift energy was fuelling the tiny seed of the Eye of Harmony buried deep in the centre of her core far more than he'd expected. The connection lasted for two minutes, and then receded. "Alright, now, you be a good girl until I get home, okay," he murmured when the connection broke.

Daniel rocked back on heels, stood up and walked to the lighting system. He double checked the timer, ensuring that she received twelve hours of light and six hours of rest. Once he made sure that everything was on autopilot, he sucked in a nervous breath, turned off the office lights casting into an unearthly orange glow. The idea of leaving her home left him feeling as if he were packing a child off to boarding school. Logically he knew that she would be fine. He walked out of the office, took the steps two at time, and headed to join Nora.

Finn's deep bark announced the arrival of Mr Borwick. The farmer had agreed to keep him for the two weeks they'd be gone. Daniel wasn't sure who would from suffer separation anxiety the most, Robbie or the dog. Already agitated, Finn danced at the door, then circled his bed and food bowls. Robbie sat on the couch arms crossed pouting that the dog wasn't making the trip with them to London. "Robbie come and tell Finn goodbye," Addie called from the door. "We must not let him know you are upset, come schotz and hug him."

"Go on Robbie," Daniel said from the stairs. "I'll get his rucksack and bed, but you have to tell to mind Mr Borwick. That's what a good master does."

Robbie glared up at Daniel, obviously considering being cheeky, then let out a huff. He pulled himself from the couch and grabbed Finn's favourite toy and leash. "Finn," he called the dog and snapped the leash on his collar, before wrapping his arms around the dog's neck. "You be a good boy, okay. I'm sorry you can't go to London, but lots of people will be there and Tony's mum doesn't want you. I want you and I'm coming back," he declared.

Addie opened the door to let her friend in. "Thank you again Angus, for keeping him. He likes the farm and he will be good company."

"The wee' un isn't so sure, is he?" Mr Borwick nodded at Robbie.

"No, but he'll be fine. Come on Robbie, take Finn to Mr Borwick's car, Ja," Addie ordered.

Daniel swallowed hard, watching the boy walk his best friend outside. He glanced over at Nora coming from the kitchen and couldn't help wondering how she did the whole parental thing so well. He flashed a smile and moved to grab Finn's bed and rucksack to deliver to the car. The dog had almost as much luggage as they did. He made it outside just in time to watch Robbie bravely order Finn inside Mr Borwick's SUV and then order him to stay. "Go inside, Robbie," Daniel ordered gently, as he helped put Finn's things in the car. Daniel rubbed the dog's ears, then closed the door. "Thanks, Mr Borwick. Can Robbie call and check on him?"

"Of course lad, Adela has my number. I'll take good care of him. The farm is better than a boarding facility, especially for a dog like this. He'll pine away in a place like that. At my farm, he can sleep on my bed or by the fire. Truth told, I've missed havin' a dog about since Jock died. You and the lass have a good time and - make sure Adela doesn't decide to stay in the land of the English too long, eh?"

"Don't worry; I could never let her stay. I'm worried you might want to steal her."

"Ha, I don't think she'll be having that. Have a good trip and watch your step." He laughed gently, pointing to Daniel's forehead.

The mound of luggage by the door, still waiting, brought an involuntary groan. "Onwards," he said to no one particular, while grabbing an arm load of luggage. At least, he wouldn't have a repeat of Donna's conversation. He still had to leave room for Nora's parents and all of their luggage. He trudged to car. "Should have asked for the helicopter," he groused as he unlocked the boot.

"No," Nora's voice came from behind. "You can't ask Pete for the helicopter every time you need to go to London. It's taking advantage. Besides, we're on holiday and Addie and I need the car to do the shoppin'. Mum will visit with Jackie, Robbie will play with Tony, and you - you will go to Torchwood to see Marcus and get your head examined as agreed. Right?" She grinned.

"Yes, mum," he whinged playfully, before pulling her in his arms. "And right after, we can use the guest house for an afternoon of getting to know you."

"Daniel, with my mum and dad at the main house? Every time we come in the house, they'll be looking at us."

"You know, that thought used to bother me, not so much now," he said, nuzzling her neck, only to get a playful slap.

"Mum, can I bring my rocket and wibbly box to show Tony?" Robbie called from the door, diverting Daniel's attention.

It would be a long drive to London.

o0o

Somewhere past Stoke-On-Trent, Daniel's mind drifted away from the chatter of four adults and the repeated questions of a six year old. The closer they drove toward London, the more he found himself growing restless. Maybe it was just the effects of being stuck in the car for so long. He'd always used the helicopter to visit. Until this trip, he'd had no idea the McGregor's had never flown. The idea seemed silly, but then he discovered they'd never been to London. Now, they droned on about the ceremony. Mr McGregor liked the idea of giving permission for his daughter to be - committed in a relationship. He just wished she'd make it legal. What if there were children? It was at that point, Daniel closed his eyes and pretended to sleep.

He wasn't aware that he'd actually slipped off. iHe danced around the console of a TARDIS. It wasn't the familiar closeness of the coral beams but the stark whiteness of... Daniel didn't know whose TARDIS he danced in. The roundels were there, and unseen voices. His feet danced again, making him feel a bit silly. Blackness seeped in, swirling around his feet making it difficult to move. Someone nattered at him./i

"Is this what his been doin'?" Mr McGregor asked, concerned by the way Daniel shifted anxiously in his sleep. In the confined space of a car, he could cause an accident. "Nora, pull off at the rest area. It'll be safer."

"I am, Dad." Nora changed lanes and exited into a park rest stop, just as Daniel snorted in his sleep and shifted again. Once the car stopped, she leaned over and whispered, so softly that her parents couldn't hear, but Daniel stilled.

"You're very good with him," her mother said. "Do you think what Ian did contributed to this?"

"We don't know. He is going to see his doctors in London."

"Schotz," Addie leaned forward to rub his shoulder. "Schotz, we're taking a break now."

Daniel jerk up, blinked in confusion at his surroundings, and then flashed a sheepish look around the car. "Sorry, didn't mean to. Where are we?"

"We're not far from the exit to the C-one."

"Really, the last time I looked we were just past Stoke? Sorry."

"Daniel, can I ask you a question?" Mr McGregor asked, glancing at Robbie.

"Yeah, sure." Daniel shifted, obviously uncomfortable.

"Were you hurt at the courthouse and didn't say?"

"Did Ian hurt dad, Gramps?"

"No, Robbie," Daniel answered firmly. He glared over his shoulder at Nora's father. "Anyone need a stop at the loo? I am gonna stretch my legs." Daniel stepped out in the cold. It only took seconds for the others to do the same. All three women quickly bundled Robbie away from the car. "Mr McGregor, please don't do that again. We try hard to reassure Robbie that Ian isn't coming back. The answer to your question is - I don't know. What did Nora tell you about me?"

McGregor huffed. "She said that you were hurt last spring, so bad that you gave up a cushy job and left London to teach. I wasn't happy that she liked someone with health issues, but she laughs with you, Daniel, and that boy adores you. Not many men would have gone with her to court like you did. I just don't want that bastard adding to her grief. Or your pain."

"I thank you for your concern; I do, just not in front of him. He has his own nightmares about his dad. That's why I made his wibbly box."

"Wibbly box?"

"It's sort of a dream catcher. I have it rigged with an audio trigger. If he gets restless, it beeps and glows. He wakes up, thinks the machine caught the bad man scaring him, pushes a button and it grinds out a noise to let him know the monster is gone. He hasn't had a nightmare since the third night we used it."

"Shame you can't have one for you. You love my daughter very much, don't you, son?"

"With all my heart, Mr McGregor. The proudest moment of my life occurred the night Robbie asked if he could call me dad. I never thought that I would be a real dad."

"Glad we had this talk. Here come the ladies. I suggest - for safety, you ride in the back seat." Mr McGregor nodded toward the women.

"Point taken," Daniel answered.

The rest of the drive was spent with Robbie tucked under Daniel's arm, both dozing. They drove around the edges of villages and larger towns. Shortly past one, Nora turned left on the C25 to make a loop around London. Following the GPS map, she exited the carriageway onto High Street, unerringly making the way toward the outskirts of the industrial parks. "You've become quite the driver in strange cities." Her father reached over to pat her arm.

"Thanks Dad. Addie, you best rouse him."

"Ja."

"Aren't we going to the Tylers?" her mother asked.

"No Mum, Daniel needs to see his doctor at Torchwood. He was afraid he'd drift off, so he loaded the directions before we left. It will take us straight to the mansion, after."

"A mansion, I've never been to a mansion. Are these folks really as nice as you say? I don't want them looking down on us, cos we're not upscale."

"Mum, really? You will love Jackie; she is the least upscale person I know. She is funny."

"She's not a yob who got rich is she?"

"No, Mum." Nora swallowed her exasperation.

"Are we talking about Jackie," Daniel interrupted through a yawn.

"Mum's worried."

"Mrs McGregor, just be prepared to hug. Jackie's a hugger, isn't she Addie?

"Ja."

Nora sent up silent thanks for the large sign at the side of the road advertising Vitex, ending the conversation. There would be a new conversation concerning the two black uniformed guards standing at the large industrial gates. Daniel had his I.D. out for the guard when he approached. "I'll have Marcus bring me to the mansion when we're finished," he said, stepping out of the car. Daniel leaned to kiss Robbie, and then walked around to Nora.

"Are you sure you don't want us to stay?"

Daniel leaned through her window to kiss her. "No, I'll be fine. Marcus will run a scan and I will prove I'm fit to drive, and tomorrow we'll do the shoppin'."

"Right, and the day after -"

"The day after we will stand in front of our families and promise to love each other forever." Daniel stood back. "Go on, now."

He watched her drive away, waiting until they were out of sight before turning for the complex. The gate rattled as it slid back just enough for him to walk through. The guard motioned him to a land rover for the short ride to Torchwood's half of the complex. Now that winter had arrived, the whole place looked dirty and grey. The guard drove into the underground car park, stopping next to the raised platform that led to the hidden lift. "Thanks," Daniel nodded as he got out. He barely remembered the first time that he walked to this lift, but he was sure he had the same gut wrenching fear that he did now. Deep inside, the constant worry that the metacrisis could somehow go wrong, scared him beyond reason. He punched the button, stepped into the lift and descended seven floors where he knew Marcus already waited for him. It surprised him to see the young doctor standing with Jan Harkness when the door opened.

"You two look like a pair of portents of doom and gloom," he quipped.

"Yeah." Marcus laughed. "And you look like bloody hell. Can you stop hitting your head?" Marcus half teased.

"Don't tell him that, Marcus. The more hits he takes, the more I can research that brain of his. Pete told me to see if there was anything left," the woman grinned.

"So Harkness, what did you do with Ned, chop him up?" Daniel snarked.

"I autopsied him and his partner and we put them in a cryo chamber. We buried the ship in the tenth floor storage under magnetic lock and key. And yes, we stripped its tech and yes, we are logging and sending the reports to you. Except, of course, you are here. Had I known you'd crack your head, I would have waited. Gotta say, Daniel, except for the bruise, you. Are. Lookin'. Good. Nice bum."

"Funny. Is Rose here? I need to see her."

"Yeah, she is in the lab. Doctor Hettinger is here too." Jan's tone turned deadly serious.

"Unless she is administering a psych eval on someone, I don't know why."

"Because, Daniel," Marcus answered, "Nora told me about the nightmares and how much worse they've become. You don't leave here until we know that you are physically and mentally alright."

"I don't need a psychiatrist."

"Prove it." Jan stood cross armed.

The muscles of his jaw clenched with a rising tide of anger. Thirty seconds in her presence and he already wanted to bolt. He stood there, debating his promise to Nora, feeling a little miffed that she'd told Marcus about all the other nights he'd jerked awake.

Marcus clamped a hand on Daniel's shoulder, trying to diffuse Daniel's shift in mood. "You - should know - we're not under orders from Pete, but from Nora. You wouldn't know it when you see her in person, but on a phone, she's a bit of a bolshie, isn't she?"

"Yeah, she's learnt to be that way." Daniel's eyes roamed the hallway, trying to find something of interest to focus on, but found nothing. He should have known that Nora would tell all. She knew him far too well to trust him to tell Marcus. He couldn't even tell her. He drew a breath. "Alright, since I'm not going to win, let's get this done." Daniel eased past the two and walked to the scan room.

Two hours later, he stood with Jan and Marcus staring at the results of the PET scan and EEG. Marcus displayed the colourful image on the computer screen, next to the last scan done during his summer visit. Daniel studied the two, looking for even the slightest difference, unsure whether to be disappointed or relieved. They were identical. His lab work had come back healthier than he'd ever been. It left him with two options; one, he'd gone mad and two, he'd gone - barmy. He puffed his cheeks as he blew out a frustrated breath. There was a third less reasonable explanation. He was the victim of a psy attack. No one on this planet could get past his shields. No one except ...

"I need to talk to Rose," he declared. "Now." Daniel turned and walked out.

"Lab," Jan and Marcus called after him.

Rose bent over the shell of a weapon, asking someone that he didn't recognise to solder a wire. "I need you." He grabbed her by the hand, glancing at the item lying on the table as he pulled her away. "That's an Alberrean scanner, you have the wiring backwards."

"It's not a weapon?" the lab tech and Rose said together.

"No," Daniel rolled his eyes. "Two universes and you both think everything is a weapon. Where did you find it?"

"Believe or not, just outside Cardiff."

"Wonderful. Rose, I need you." He said, pulling her away from the table toward the door. The pace he set as he pulled her, protesting, down the hall, forced her to trot to keep up with his long legs. He jiggled three doors before finding an empty office, pulling her in and closing the door.

"Have you lost your mind?" She wrenched away.

"Sorry. Really. I am. This is important. Do you dream? Of him. At all," he demanded.

"What?"

"Rose, this is important. Are you having dreams of him?" Daniel ignored the look of incredulity on Rose's face, instead pacing around, looking like a mad scientist.

"I always dream about him."

"But is it more lately?"

"I don't know, I've spent five years dreaming about him."

"You and Don are seeing each other, yeah?"

"Daniel, what is going on?"

Daniel stood stock still, arms crossed and met her angry expression with a firm look of his own. "Yes," she finally answered, "Don and I are seeing each other."

"You're both grown ups, so I'm guessing you're doing more than eating chips. After. You. Eat - the chips, are the dreams worse?"

"Are you asking me if I'm shagging Don?" She snapped.

"No." His eyes widened. "God - No. I'm asking if you have nightmares after - you know."

"Daniel, will you tell me what the bloody hell you are talking about?"

Running his tongue over his teeth, trying to make reason of his thought, Daniel turned away, feeling as stupid as she must think. "When you first landed here, you dreamt about him because he sent you a message."

"Yeah, I did. He was using a dying sun for energy. You already know that, you were him at the time."

Daniel continued, oblivious to the dig. "After he said goodbye on the beach, did you dream about him or have visions of him?"

"Sure, I dreamt about him all the time. The places we went, the things we did, and yeah, I guess you could say I had visions, someone in a crowd who looked like him, that sort of thing. Daniel, you're scaring me. I know you've had these nightmares, but c'mon... His memories are just bleeding into your dreams."

"No, no," he shook his head, "that's not it. They were like that, but this - this is different. I - see him, Rose. I catch a glimpse of him when I look in a mirror, he's staring into the rotor looking - haunted. I have flashes of him running, so I ride my bike at ninety, just to breathe. I'm drowning under the weight of his loneliness. I hurt - physically hurt. I dreamt, I don't know what, but I leapt out of bed and ran outside starkers. I woke up, staring at the sky like I expected to see something."

"That how you got that?" she asked, pointing to his forehead, her voice softened.

He nodded. "I thought the metacrisis might be failing, but Marcus ran scans. They are all normal, my EEG and labs are all normal. Well normal for me, anyway. That leaves two things, I'm mental or I'm under a psy attack."

"And you thought that I was attacking you," Rose snarled.

"Not on purpose, more like something has you acting like a conduit of energy. You have residual artron in your cells from your travels and time in the TARDIS. I thought adrenaline rushes might ..."

"That's not possible.

"Of course it's possible. If I thought of it, it's possible. Adrenaline increases the activity of artron forging a link with the nearest source - me. It's possible," he declared, then took a breath. "I'm not trying to fight, I'm not. It's just ..."

"But that's - that's just..."

"Not right, I know." Daniel straightened. "It's him, it's all him. The TARDIS is acting like a amplifier, broadcasting his emotions straight into my head. Rose, - I think..." He turned, looking desperate. "I'm sorry, so, so sorry." He pulled her into a tight hug and planted a kiss the top of her head. "But, Rose ... I think - he is dying."

Rose jerked back. "You mean regenerating? You think he's regenerating?"

"No - I honestly don't know. All the times that I've told you to treat him as if he were dead, I never expected to feel him die. He's scared and there is nothing I can do." He tightened his grip as she sank against him. "I'm so sorry, Rose," he whispered. Silence filled the room. They both heard Marcus's voice calling for them, but neither moved. They stood there wrapped in each other's arms, unsure what to say.

"You two having a love fest in here?" Marcus snapped, when he threw the door open.

"No," Rose pulled away and wiped her tears. "Two friends consoling each other," she huffed, before fleeing the room.

"Daniel?"

"It's alright," he turned to focus on Marcus. "I figured it out now. Let's go."

o0o

Nora clicked her mobile off and turned to meet the anxious eyes of the five people standing in the kitchen. "That was Marcus; he's bringing Daniel as soon as he's finished with the psychiatrist. His tests have all came back normal. There is no sign that Ian hurt him. It's just stress. That's what Marcus said; stress from never dealing with the war and now that he is relaxed and happy, his subconscious is having trouble keeping it buried. He said that the psychiatrist wants to see him over the next couple of weeks, but he should be fine. Mum," she sobbed. She let her mother wrap her in a hug. "I'm not losing him, Mum."