"Salvage"

37. The Waters of Mesphoria

The springs on the Eastern Shores of Mesphoria – in the year 2033

Everything that could be done had been done. The effects would not be automatic, it would take time for the waters to cycle back into the springs, if they had done everything as they were meant to. The Mesphorite had returned to their beds and they had slept the night, concentrating all of their hopes and dreams on those springs.

The sun was hardly out when Rada had left her bed. Living with the Quake Orphans was not always the most peaceful of lives. Some were louder, some still cried for their mothers and fathers, others had nightmares about the quake. When she had returned to their home the night before though, all of them had been there, anxious to hear about how she had been right there, helping the team that was working at the tunnel site. She had obliged them, and finally a few hours later she had been able to get some sleep.

But now she was awake, and there was no way she would be going back to sleep. So she'd dressed and started walking for the springs. Some nights she still dreamed about them, how she would walk there with her mother and her father. After the quake, it had been left to dry up, and in a way that was how she'd felt, without her family. She had grown since then, and more than anything she wanted her life to change. She wanted to be more than some Quake Orphan. A return of the springs could be taken as a sign, that the tides were turning for her as well.

Even the grass leading up to the springs had dried up over time, but this morning… It was too soon, probably wishful thinking, but it felt… fresher under her feet. And then she saw it… the spring… It had begun to flow. She smiled, running up to get a closer look. It would take a bit more for it to be back to normal, but this was good, this was real… They had done it.

She ran at breakneck speed, made for the palace so the Queen could be told.

Within an hour, there were people all around the springs. They had this look in their eyes, all of them, just as she'd had: it was even more beautiful than they remembered.

Olis and her team had bowed their heads to the Queen as she commanded them on their work, turning those compliments on to Jori and Mat and their ground team as well, to all of her people who had played their part, to help make the time they had needed to finish fixing the trouble Wallis Cod had caused for them. And she thanked those who had responded to her distress call. She thanked the girl Rose and the man Sam before turning to her old friend.

"Will you come and visit us again?" she asked him with a smile.

"I'll try and make it a social call this time," he vowed and she laughed.

"I would like that. You've been greater help than you realize, once again."

"I could say the same of you. Now do yourself a favor and enjoy this time. Be who you've always been."

"The Child Queen?" she smiled.

"Long be your reign," he told her, bowing his head.

"Now I'll have none of that from you, Doctor," she had wrapped her arms around him.

"Not trying to get me to change my mind about this husband business, are you?" he joked, and she laughed, pulling away from the hug.

"No, Doctor. I'm saying farewell," she smiled.

X

Sam had sensed her silence from the moment it had become clear the Doctor was about to take his leave from Mesphoria – which meant his companions would do the same. He hadn't spoken to either of them about it yet, but he had made up his mind, and so he went up to her.

"Sam…" Mersi spoke, trying to sound casual; her voice was having none of that.

"I need to ask you something," he breathed.

"Alright?"

"I told you about what the medic said, about this thing with me and the binding."

"You did," she nodded.

"So it got me thinking, and what I want to know is if it would be alright, if I stayed here, on Mesphoria." If she had been of human height, it would have been said that she'd looked up, but as it was the best she could do was to look him in the eye as he looked up at her. "If I stayed here, with you."

"You would do that? Because of the binding?" she asked, hesitant.

"It gave me another reason, but it wasn't the first one. That would be you." The smile she gave in response was exactly that. She was saying that, yes, it would be more than alright if he stayed here with her. She would want nothing more.

He could see the Doctor and Rose were starting back for the TARDIS, so he'd told Mersi he would be right back and run off to talk to them.

X

"Can I come with you?" Rada had asked the Doctor, staring at the box that was meant to be a ship.

"You want to leave Mesphoria?" he asked, and she bowed her head.

"Well, maybe not," she admitted.

"Tell you what. You give this place a few more years, see what it has to give you, and if you still want to leave one day, you give me a call and I will be here before you know it. How does that sound?"

"Sounds good," Rada smiled. "Goodbye, Doctor," she stepped back, running off to find Mersi again. She had so much to tell her.

Rose had seen Sam talking with Mersi off in the distance, and when he came up to her and the Doctor, she let out a breath. "Said your goodbyes?" she asked him.

"Actually, I'm making them now," he revealed.

"What?" Rose asked.

"So you're staying then," the Doctor stated.

"Whatever happens with this thing, my legs, it doesn't matter. I'm happier here than I've been, and that should count for something, shouldn't it?"

"Counts for everything," Rose smiled, hugging him. "Thank you," she spoke at his ear and kissed his cheek.

"Anytime," he smiled back before reaching his hand out to the Doctor, who clasped it with his own. "Thanks for the ride."

"The pleasure was all mine."

Sam had watched them step on to the TARDIS, taking a few paces back before watching it start to disappear. Then it was gone, and he was home. He walked back down the hill to rejoin Mersi.

TO BE CONTINUED (SUNDAY)