Chapter 22

[Well this is the end of Part 2. Thanks to everyone who read it. Special shout out to Bomberguy who reviewed like, every other chapter. Part 3 should be up soon, but not crazy soon. Still a fair amount to write. I'd say give it about a week.]

Everyone was distracted after the dalek defeat. Many people were celebrating, because they'd won, and they were still alive. Mustang could be heard wondering what to do with all the dalek's fleshy squid like bodies, which had not been destroyed. Some people, such as Mrs. Owens, were mourning someone who had died.

After all the excitement, Mrs. Bradley needed to sit down. Oh, not that she hadn't led an eventful life, but that was mostly before, when she was younger. She dropped into a chair and closed her eyes for just a moment.

She didn't notice the Doctor climb down the building and start wandering away. No one did but Pride, and the moment was enough for him to dash off unnoticed as well. (It was, admittedly, easy with the door gone.)

Once he was out of the room, Pride took off running. He could see the Doctor out the window, walking down the street, but she was moving fast. She would no doubt leave in the TARDIS without a trace, and he had to catch her before that.

"Doctor!" he shouted, entering the street. He tripped. He paused and looked behind him. It seemed he'd tripped on one of the dalek bodies. He leapt back up. "Doctor, wait!"

She paused, turning back to him.

"If I stay here, they'll kill me."

They might not. He could run away, and Mrs. Bradley would probably do anything in her power to make sure he didn't die. But life on the run or locked up didn't sound much better.

"You know, I think you're right," the Doctor agreed. "Pretty rude, considering you helped save the planet."

"I don't think that makes up for a very prolonged attempt to end it," Pride pointed out, especially since he'd done it largely to save himself from the daleks. It wasn't as though he'd ever done something "good" for the sake of it.

Maybe not the best time to remind her of any of that, but he couldn't ignore it either. She'd probably call him out if he did.

"No, I suppose not," the Doctor slowly conceded. "And I suppose I'm supposed to save you now."

"You are the one who told them my identity."

Technically Ed had already known, but she didn't know that.

"You don't need to guilt trip me. I was planning to take you already," the Doctor said. "But I'm warning you, we'll have to change how we do some things. Am I clear?"

"No memory erasing." It could be interpreted as a question. But Pride had meant it mostly as a demand, and he was pretty sure the Doctor picked up on that.

"No. Erasing your identity while keeping any other memories there would be more tricky than it's worth. And it wouldn't really help since you'd still be in danger here."

"Well then, we understand each other."

Mrs. Bradley and the Owens went back to her house. It seemed better than staying in Central. There was just too much going on there. It was also better than the Owens going to their own house, leaving each other alone. The Owens were mourning their daughter. And Mrs. Bradley? She'd looked away to sit down, and Selim was gone. She didn't know where he went.

Mr. Owens was sympathetic. Mrs. Owens less so. From what she'd overheard, she was probably convinced Mrs. Bradley had adopted a monster. She wanted to believe Selim was alright, just slipped away while he could, but what if someone had found him? Would they even bother to tell her? She wasn't completely alone. But she'd already lost King, and any friends she had were nothing compared to her son.

They sat in silence a little longer, except Mrs. Owens sniffling. Then the phone rang.

"You should get that," Mr. Owens suggested. "It's probably important."

Yes, Mrs. Bradley couldn't think of an unimportant reason someone would be calling today. She picked up the phone, voice unsteady.

"Yes? You've reached the Bradley residence."

"Hello Mother."

Mrs. Bradley gasped softly. There was that tone she'd come to know so well. Far less exuberant than his acting, but still genuinely happy to hear her, and a tone that he never seemed to use with anyone else.

"Selim," she said quietly. The Owens looked over. Right. She had company. But they could only hear her half of the conversation. "Where are you?" she asked. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." She couldn't see him, but she was still fairly sure he was nodding. "I'm with the Doctor. I'm . . . not sure I can come back."

Mrs. Bradley looked out the window at the sunset. She understood what he meant. With his secret out, it wasn't like he could carry on with a normal life. He might be able to pop in sometime in the Doctor's teleporting box, but since people would no doubt keep watch on the house even that would be difficult.

"No," she agreed sadly. "I suppose not."

She thought she'd just been sad, but apparently Selim heard a different context. "Has something happened? No one's giving you trouble already, are they?"

Mrs. Bradley couldn't help but be a little amused. "No. We're fine. I'm just, sure they'll come eventually."

"You don't have to say you knew anything. I told them you didn't."

"I don't want to lie. You are my son, and that's nothing I'm ashamed of." It was quiet, hard to hear over the phone, but Mrs. Bradley was pretty sure she heard him sigh. "Where is she anyway?" she asked, changing the subject, and remembering at the last moment not to mention he was with the Doctor with the Owens here. It was unlikely anyone could do much with that information, but it was for the best for now.

"Oh. She's making a stop. She'll be back in soon."

"And you'll be okay with her?"

"I think so."

Not the most comforting, but it would have to do. "I see. I'm glad you're safe. But, I want you to keep in contact. Call me."

"I will. I'll try to visit too."

Mrs. Bradley nodded. She didn't like this, being separated from her son, trying to sneak in moments while he was essentially on the run. But right now, she knew there wasn't a better alternative.

"Let me know if you need to leave her. We can work something out."

"I-" Selim stopped, sounding uncertain in that one word, before recovering. "I'll think about it." They were quiet for a moment. "The Doctor's coming back."

"Okay. You go on now."

"Bye Mother."

He hung up the phone. Mrs. Bradley set the phone down and looked out the window, smiling sadly. Yes, it seemed things were changing for good now, but maybe that would be okay.