Recall

By Lumendea

Chapter Two: Recalled by the Third II

Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who or any of the spinoff material, and I gain no income off of this story, just the satisfaction of playing with the characters.

AN: Thank you for the lovely comments! The response was wonderful! I'm sure how many chapters each Doctor will have with Gaia yet. While I enjoy writing her with Three, I'm finding that I also really like the reactions of the Doctor's friends to the situation.

….

Thank goodness for Jo. The Doctor had never relied on her quite as much as he did the moment that she jumped ahead of the Brigadier and started trying to explain the situation. He wondered what she had told the Brigadier earlier in his office. The man had whirled into his lab in his usual huff of not believing anything unusual.

"She's from his child from his future," Jo said. "But it is his child."

"How the devil would you know that, Doctor?" the Brigadier huffed. He was eying Gaia with a careful expression that greatly offended the Doctor. "This could be some sort of trap. Given that you change your face, a person wouldn't even need to find a child that looked like you-"

"Brigadier, there is a strong mental link between my daughter and me," the Doctor said, cutting off the Brigadier. "I understand that you are human, and such a thing may be difficult for you to understand or even accept, but it is a fact of my species. Given time and nurturing, the bond can grow strong enough to be felt across incarnations."

Gaia shifted in his arms and looked up at him once more. She didn't seem worried by his tone, which was a relief. Calming down a three-year-old sounded like a terrifying challenge. Nonetheless, he would keep a close eye on her moods. He'd overheard the tea lady discussing her young granddaughter with Jo on a couple of occasions, and tantrums sounded like something best avoided.

He had been completely truthful about the bond. In general, his species were all telepathic though to differing levels and had an awareness of each other. But strong bonds were possible amongst family members. Gaia was still so young, and yet his bond with her was at least twice as strong as his bond with Susan had been, and there was no comparison to his connection with his children on Gallifrey. Perhaps it should have inspired some sort of guilt, but in truth, he was more curious about it, and what it meant about the man he would become.

"Are you completely certain, Doctor?" the Brigadier asked.

"I am." The Doctor took a breath, reminding himself that losing his temper with the Brigadier wouldn't help the situation. "And this should be very temporary. She is fitted with a recall device to get her to safety. And this time, when it activated, she was brought to me. Her father will be along soon to retrieve her."

"She's cute," Benton offered with a good-natured smile. Gaia offered him a small wave. "Hello, sweetheart." He looked up at the Doctor and chuckled. "So, does she look a future face or her mother?"

That question drew everyone's attention. Even the Brigadier was watching him with a curious expression at that question. The Doctor knew Benton meant well but did the man honestly think he knew that.

"I don't know," he answered as calmly as possible. Gaia was settling again. Given her age and the excitement, she likely required sleep. And he should see about food. Who knows how long it had been since she ate, and while he didn't have clear memories of his future self, he did have a sense that he was unpleasant. "She is from my future, Benton. I don't know what I will look like, and I've yet to meet her mother."

"I'm sure she's lovely," Jo said. She smiled at Gaia again. "After all, you have the sweetest little girl."

"Ah, yes, thank you, Jo. I do apologize for the distraction Brigadier, but given that she's not human, I'm sure you can recognize that there is no option but for her to remain with me."

"No, I suppose there isn't," the Brigadier agreed. "Just a few days, you said, Doctor?"

"Certainly," the Doctor said. If nothing else, another future version of him could come and pick up Gaia if things took a turn here. "Thank you, Brigadier." He meant it, and the Brigadier nodded.

"Well, she can't be left alone. Not only is she a civilian, but she'd a child. It would be far too easy for her to be injured. Or for her wander off and be found by… those less friendly towards nonhumans."

"I can stay overnight and help keep an eye on her," Jo said pleasantly. "I used to watch the children of my parent's friends when I was younger." Jo chuckled a little and smiled at Gaia. "Even the innocent looking ones can give you trouble."

The Doctor's instinct was to defend his daughter, but… well, she was rather small. And she was his daughter, which meant that Gaia was certain to be intelligent and curious even at her young age. The Brigadier was still watching and clearly amused despite his attempts at keeping a straight face.

"I would appreciate that, Jo," he said. He looked at the Brigadier and asked, "Is there anything else you need from me for the time being, Brigadier?"

"Not that I am aware of, Doctor," the Brigadier replied. "See to your child and keep me informed of any developments." Then he turned to Benton and Yates. "I want this kept quiet. There's no need for the men to be poking around in here. Am I clear?"

"Yes, sir," Yates replied with a quick nod. "Do I need to order a visitors pass for the girl?"

The Brigadier looked at Gaia again, and his eyes softened. "No, Yates. I think it best that we keep the child off the record. Unless you object?"

"No, sir," Yates agreed at once. He allowed himself a small smile as he glanced towards Gaia himself. "Probably safest for everyone. Wouldn't want the Doctor's daughter harmed, especially not after he named her after our planet."

"After our planet?" Jo repeated. Then her face lit up. "Oh, yes, Gaia. I hadn't thought of that." She grinned at the Doctor. "I knew you liked us more than you admit."

"Perhaps," the Doctor allowed. Then Gaia yawned loudly. "Excuse me. Jo, can you check the canteen and see if you can find something for Gaia?"

"Of course, Doctor," Jo agreed at once. "I'll meet you in the TARDIS then?"

"Yes, Jo." He looked at the Brigadier. "Thank you again, Brigadier."

"I'll check in later, Doctor."

The Brigadier nodded and headed out of the room. Benton lingered just long enough to give Gaia a little wave she returned. Jo smiled and hurried after them.

"Your friends are nice, Daddy," she said in a sleepy voice.

"Yes," the Doctor agreed. "They are. Now, are you hungry?"

"Yeah," she admitted.

"Then it's a good thing that Jo is fetching you some food," the Doctor said.

He almost sighed in relief that at least he'd gotten that right. But he hadn't considered favourite foods and if she was a picky eater. The TARDIS could probably help with that if necessary. The Doctor carried his daughter into the TARDIS and headed down the hallway for the kitchen. He kept some basics in there, still living out of his TARDIS, despite his banishment. Why the Brigadier thought he actually lived in the side quarters, the Doctor had no idea.

Jo had kept things simple, pulling out some of the sandwiches left over from the evening meal and heating them up as needed. It wasn't the healthiest option, but the Doctor had already heard Gaia's stomach growl once while he got her settled. Jo found the Doctor and Gaia in the small kitchen that the TARDIS had managed to keep functioning. The Doctor thanked her and took the kettle off the stove. Jo had spent enough time with him in the TARDIS at this point to know the basics of where things were.

Little Gaia was sitting on a stack of books to boost her up high enough to use the top of the table. The Doctor was relieved that the little girl didn't seem to be a picky eater. Or perhaps she was used to sandwiches. The last time she'd been with him, he'd indulged her a bit too much with chips. This time, he was determined that there would be at least a little nutrition in her diet.

"So, Gaia," Jo said pleasantly as she cut her sandwich into her preferred triangles. "Do you live on the TARDIS with your parents?" The Doctor tensed at the question.

"Yes!" Gaia cheered, giving Jo a big smile. "The TARDIS takes very good care of us. Daddy says she likes me best!"

The Doctor relaxed. That was innocent enough information, and he smiled at Gaia when she turned her big blue eyes towards him. He wasn't sure how much the little girl knew about the Laws of Time. She was so… young and small. What would he be thinking in the future to have a womb-born child?

"Do you have a favourite book, little one?" the Doctor asked. General information about Gaia herself was fine.

Gaia's expression turned thoughtful. Jo cooed softly, and the Doctor felt his lips twitch into a smile. It was rather adorable. Evolution had done well to make baby creatures cute during their weakest phase of development. He'd never been immune to it, and knowing, feeling, that it is was his own child was making the effect stronger.

"I don't know," Gaia finally said. "Daddy likes to read to Mummy and me in the library. We read a lot of stories. I really like a Christmas Carol! Mummy and Daddy talk about Old Charlie and their adventure with him whenever Daddy reads that. I like that story!"

"Old Charlie? Do you mean Charles Dickens?" Jo asked.

"Yes, he helped Mummy and Daddy-"

"No details," the Doctor interjected gently.

Gaia blinked at him and then nodded seriously. "Sorry, Daddy. That's the first Law of Time, right? No information about your own future."

"Yes," the Doctor agreed. He was surprised by Gaia's serious turn. Pleased but surprised.

"But you know about her being your daughter," Jo pointed out.

"It's a bit complicated," the Doctor said. He rubbed the side of his neck, trying to decide how much to explain to Jo.

"Spoilers ruin the story," Gaia said. "Makes it less fun."

"Spoilers?" Jo repeated.

"Knowing how the story ends," the Doctor explained. "It's a term used in the future. The term is meant to reflect that knowing the twists and turns of a story spoils your potential enjoyment."

"Oh," Jo replied. Then she nodded. "All right, that makes sense, I suppose. You do you like your adventures."

"Yes, I suppose I do."

Gaia giggled and returned to her sandwich. The Doctor could see the curiosity burning in Jo's eyes, but she didn't ask about any of his future adventures. Instead, she asked Gaia little questions about herself.

"What is your favourite colour?" Jo asked.

"Blue, like the TARDIS!"

"Oh, good choice," Jo cooed. She looked at the Doctor. "Is your answer the same, Doctor?"

"Yes, I think that's a very good answer," the Doctor replied.

"And what's your favourite food?" Jo asked, turning her attention back to Gaia.

"Chips!"

"Favorite flavour of ice cream?"

"Chocolate."

"Favorite animal?"

The Doctor wondered if he should stop the questioning, but it was keeping Gaia distracted. She was eating slowly in-between questions and smearing egg salad on her face. Despite her familiarity with the concept of the Laws of Time, it seemed that she still lacked coordination. Or maybe it was the result of her excitement, or she was getting tired. He simply had no idea what to expect from a three-year-old Gallifreyan child. It was apparent that her mind was well developed; she had strong telepathy, decent shields, thankfully, and already showed signs of impressive intelligence. But as to what normal at her age should be, he was at a loss.

"I love the dogs of Barcelona, the planet, not the city," Gaia said firmly.

The last answer made Jo blink in confusion, and the Doctor laughed. He'd always found those little dogs amusing, and apparently, he'd take Gaia to see them. He sat back and listened to Jo talk with the little girl who asked Jo the same questions. The Doctor noted both of their answers.

"Favorite music?"

"Disney songs!"

The Doctor wasn't sure he was looking forward to that. His expression must have said as much because Gaia giggled and said that he liked them. He wasn't sure if he pretended to for his daughter's sake or if he would warm up further to human culture in the future. The Doctor supposed that it wasn't impossible. The people of Earth had given him a home in his exile.

"I love the Beatles," Jo replied.

"Gran and I listened to their albums once," Gaia answered. "They were nice too!"

"Glad you think so," Jo said with a smile.

Gran, the Doctor, noted despite himself. While it wasn't unheard of for Time Lords to take an interest in their grandchildren, he only had to look at himself; it was difficult for him to imagine one listening to Earth music with Gaia. An uncomfortable idea was forming that he shoved away and resolved to bury later. While he'd retain the memory of Gaia's visit, it was clear that he'd need to be mindful as before of the memories he kept.

"Oh, how about your favourite flower?" Jo asked.

"Roses!"

Gaia had grinned when she answered that one. Like a cat that had caught a canary to use the human turn of phrase. The Doctor wasn't sure what to make of that, but Jo kept going.

"Let's see, uh, favourite bird?"

"Frigga II rainbow owls," Gaia answered happily. "They're so pretty! But I like a lot of animals! It's hard to pick only one."

"Favorite holiday?" Jo asked.

"Christmas," Gaia replied. "It's the best!"

"You celebrate Christmas?" the Doctor asked in surprise. Gaia nodded enthusiastically. He leaned forward and studied the child. She'd finished her sandwich, and the Doctor was aware of the mess. But Jo had also bought some crisps that Gaia now turned her attention to. Tomorrow, he'd sort out some fruits for the girl, the Doctor promised himself.

"Do you go to school?" Jo asked, shifting her questions away from favourites.

"No, I learn in the TARDIS library," Gaia replied.

"I suppose that makes sense. You're a little young," Jo replied. "What do you do in your free time?"

"Lots of things. I like trying new things. We travel and see the universe!" Despite her excitement, Gaia then yawned.

"I think it is time to get you cleaned up and to bed," the Doctor said, rising to his feet.

But then Gaia pouted, and the Doctor wondered if he'd made a mistake in revealing his plan. Five minutes in the loo with Gaia trying to clean her face proved his fears justified.

….

It took two bedtime stories, recounting his recent adventures, to get Gaia to settle in the guest room of the TARDIS. Jo hadn't been of much help beyond finding a shirt for Gaia to wear to bed. During the stories, she'd lingered in the doorway and corrected some of his details and made Gaia laugh with jokes.

But finally, finally, the child had fallen to sleep, and Jo had slipped off to the guest room she used when staying over at UNIT. The Doctor closed Gaia's door and groaned, leaning against it with a sigh of relief. This was exhausting. Shaking his head, he headed for the console room and wondered how soon his future self would be arriving to collect Gaia. It wasn't that he didn't like the child. He did, and today, with Jo's questions, he learned quite a bit more about her. There was just something unsettling, even to a Time Lord, about meeting your child so early.

The Doctor couldn't remember the state he'd left his lab in. It had been late in the day when Gaia arrived and took over everything, but he recalled that there were experiments running. Heading for the door, he was surprised to find his lab occupied. The Brigadier was in his lab, glancing through reports and looked over when the Doctor stepped out. The man chuckled, and the Doctor wondered just how tired he looked.

"You look like you lost a fight," the Brigadier said drily.

"Gaia, it seems, enjoys swimming but does not like washing up," the Doctor replied.

He moved over and checked the experiments. Everything was running smoothly. He turned to find that the Brigadier had found a bottle of scotch and two glasses. The man set them down at the Doctor desk and sat in one of the chairs.

"How is the child?" the Brigadier asked.

"Sleeping," the Doctor answered. He sat down and sighed out loud. "She had more energy than I was expecting. And can move very quickly despite having such short legs."

"Kate was much the same way at that age," the Brigadier replied. The Doctor nodded. It was rare that the Brigadier spoke of his daughter while at UNIT, and he appreciated the man's gesture. The Brigadier poured two glasses of the scotch and handed one to the Doctor. "I can't imagine what it would have been like to meet her before I even knew her mother. Sounds frustrating to me."

"Oh, I don't know," the Doctor chuckled. "I don't see myself as ready to settle down and have children just yet. I can't imagine being ready for that for centuries to come."

"It can hit you quite suddenly, Doctor."

"Yes, well. Gaia is a lovely girl. I'm fond of her, so when it happens, I'm sure it will be a happy occasion."

"Surely you're curious about her mother?"

"A bit, I suppose, but I don't think on it. Nor do I ask Gaia about her."

"Why ever not? Sounds to me like it would make things easier."

"Because I am a time traveller, Alistair," the Doctor answered, using the man's given name. "Learning too much about your future in advance… it can rob you of free will. You can be left with a script to follow so that things turn out as you remember being told they did. Because I have met Gaia, she has to be born in the future. And I'm not angry about that. But if I was to know about her mother in advance, well, then I would know. I'd have to have a child with her regardless of how we actually got along." The Doctor wasn't going to discuss feelings. He had a difficult time picturing himself, any version of himself, in a long-term relationship. And perhaps that wasn't the situation his future self lived in. "As long as I don't know about Gaia's mother, the possibilities of who she might remain open to me."

"I think I understand," the Brigadier said thoughtfully. "As long as you don't know who Gaia's mother is, then there is potential for any woman to be her mother."

"Exactly, Brigadier." The Doctor couldn't help but smile a little. If only the Brigadier listened half as well on other days. "But, it isn't something I need to be concerned with yet. I'm very confident that Gaia is the child of a version of me a fair distance in my future."

"Ah, clinging to bachelorhood then," the Brigadier said. He took a long drink from his glass after he mumbled, "Wise."

The Doctor did not remark on it. His last self after the Yeti Incident and blissfully unaware that he would wind up banished to Earth had looked up a bit about the Brigadier. The man's marriage to Fiona wouldn't last much longer, not even for Kate's sake. But Fiona would happily remarry in a few years, and the Brigadier would reunite with an old love in Doris.

"To daughters," the Doctor says, raising his glass.

The Brigadier chuckles and clinks their glasses together. "To daughters," he agrees.