The phone call
Liz took her uncle's arm and they both walked towards Dame Emily and her guests. As they headed towards the Christmas tree Ben Rafferty fell into step with Liz.
Dame Emily sighed happily, as she linked arms with Charles. "They make a lovely couple Don't you think?"
Charles squeezed her arm and whispered, "Don't get your hopes up Emily, I think our Elizabeth has already lost her heart to another, even if she is only just realizing it!"
Emily turned her head and looked at him sharply. Then frowned, "Not that Doctor she keeps mentioning, I hope! He sounds quite frightful!"
Charles smiled, amused at the thought, and shook his head.
Suddenly a light formed in Dame Emily's eyes, "Alistair? But surely..."
She stopped and considered, her fiery daughter and the tall, handsome, determined soldier.
A slow smiled touched her face. "Mmm, yes, the Brigadier, Alistair!"
"Now, Emily, no meddling, leave them to it!" Charles admonished, "He's getting over a divorce and Liz is starting to realize that she wants more from life then the answer to some scientific problem!"
As they arrived back at the party Dame Emily saw Liz heading up the stairs.
"Elizabeth?" she said sternly, "Where do you think you are going?"
Liz stopped, sighed deeply and looked at her watch. "I just need to make a call, mother, I.." she stopped. How could she explain to her mother that she wanted to speak to the Brigadier, to hear his voice, to.."
Dame Emily smiled "Alright Dear, I will make your apologies! And Liz,"
Liz looked back at her mother quizzically, "Good luck!"
Liz blinked and looked at her mother's knowing smile, puzzled.
Alistair was tired and despondent, it was Christmas eve and he was sat at his desk working. He could hear the sounds of the party taking place in the mess. He had been there to say a few welcoming words, before leaving them to it and going back to his office. He and a handful of staff were the duty team for the night. Alistair smiled listening to the singing of Christmas Songs with a distinctive military twist. Although the party was to be none alcoholic he had tasted the punch and detected a hint of spiking, but not too much. The men knew better then to get in able when on standby. Although Alistair was liked by his men, they were in no doubt that he was a fair CO but not one who would tolerate rule breaking.
He looked up at the Christmas card on his desk. It was one from two years before, one Fiona had helped Kate to write, He had found it after much searching in the cupboard where he kept his personal belongings. It had been tucked away safely under the box with the watch an ex girlfriend had once given him. Of course Fiona wouldn't have considered he deserved a card from his daughter, this year. No, he didn't deserve a card, a wife, a daughter, he was just a selfish soldier. A soldier, who stood in front of monsters from everywhere in the universe. He did that to protect those he loved from the horrors that they couldn't even imagine. He did it to protect his little girl, his wife.. ex wife, his heart plummeted, yet Fiona didn't think he deserve to be loved. Was he destined to be alone for the rest of his life.
He looked at the reports on his desk, why did this have to be his responsibility? Why him?
He stopped and breathed through the anger. There was a job to do and it had landed on his desk. At least if he was dealing with it he knew it was being done, properly.
The phone rang, at first his heart lifted perhaps it was Kate, maybe Fiona had.., then he glanced at the clock 23:00 hours. Kate would be asleep and his heart sank, this could only be one thing another, blasted problem, he hoped he wouldn't need to disrupt the party.
"Lethbridge-Stewart!" he barked as he answer the phone.
Liz wasn't sure what to say. It was eleven pm, hardly the time to be ringing for a chat.
"Hi, ...Alistair, I just wanted to... well I just wanted to ring and say, hi," she said lamely.
"Err, right!" he said unsure. "Were you wanting the Doctor? I can find him for you!"
Liz nearly grasped at this get out, but steeled herself!
"No, it was you, I wanted. I just, wanted to wish you Merry Christmas, and I really wanted to see how you are!"
There was a long silence at the other end of the line. "I've .. missed you!"
Alistair blinked, then in amazement asked, "You have?"
She nodded and then realized he was unaware of the action.
"Yes, I just wanted to talk to you!"
"Err right!" came his answer.
"Is this an awkward time, are you busy?"
He looked down at the pile of reports
"No, this is the perfect time! How's Oxford?"
Liz smiled, and started to tell him about her time in Oxford.
They talked naturally, bringing each other up to date with there news since last seeing each other. Liz could hear the UNIT party in the background.
"Am I keeping you from the party?"
She heard him chuckle.
"No, they don't need the CO there spoiling their fun, I'm standing as duty officer and manning the coms!"
Liz smiled, yes, he would be, she thought.
Lizh heard a cheer from the UNIT party and glasses clinking down stairs, glanced at her watch, they had been talking for nearly an hour. It was now midnight.
"Happy Christmas Liz!" he said quietly.
"Happy Christmas Alistair!.. I ... love you." she whispered.
There was a long silence and Liz was frightened. Had she made a terrible gaffe, had she spoken too soon. Her heart felt frozen in her chest Then she heard him say, very softly.
"I love you too, Lizzy!"
After hearing that her mind seemed to stall just focusing on those words. Then she caught up with what he was saying.
"I'll have to be going Lizzy, time for me to be playing the stern C.O." there was a pause then he said, "Sleep well Darling!"
"You, too, love!"
Then the phone had been replaced at his end.
Once she put down the phone she smiled, Lizzy, no one had ever called her Lizzy. Well, that pompous little ass, Milburn, at primary school had, and she had hated it. In fact she had knocked his front teeth out, for calling her it. But when Alistair said it, it just made her feel warm and wanted.
He would be calling tomorrow morning, after he had phoned Kate. And he was coming to Oxford on the 29th. They would be meeting at the Eagle and Child. Liz just hugged herself and smiled at the thought.
Alistair replaced the receiver on the phone and was tempted to pinch himself. Surely he must be asleep and this was a dream. For months he had been trying to hide his feelings for the feisty scientist. He had tried to maintain a stiff commanding officer front when dealing with her.
And she treated him with disdain, retorting with a sharp tongue, never seeming to have a civil word to say to him. Yet it seemed she was hiding similar feelings for him.
And tonight in this out of the blue phone call she had told him she loved him.
He was smiling happily to himself. Maybe he wasn't destined to spend life alone. At least with Liz he didn't have to hide what he did behind a series of lies.
When the Doctor burst into his office to drag him along to the tail end of the party he found him sat in his chair with afar away look in his eyes and a smile on his lips.
The Doctor, Benton and Carol Bell, all seemed puzzled by the Brigadier's happy demeanor. But all of them were pleased to see it, he had seemed so down these past few days.