Cara yawned, picking up a pillow in attempt to block the sun's rays. "Ugh…" she moaned turning over; and promptly fell off.
"Oww." Cara grumbled, poking her head out of the blanket she had been covered with; she had been asleep on a soft couch with a warm yellow blanket that had been covering her. "Where am I?"
"Sarah Jane's," the Doctor said, walking out of the kitchen, setting down two cups of tea, helping her up off the floor. "When-?"
"Last night, fell asleep in the car." The Doctor said, tucking some of her loose hair behind her ear, sitting down on Sarah Jane's coffee table. "I'm sorry about Rose." Cara said instantly. "It's all my fault a-"
"No, no, no. You didn't do anything." The Doctor said sternly. "It's my fault, I just thought…things would be different." he said quietly.
The school bell rang loudly as the children flocked towards the building, excitedly. Closing the car door, The Doctor, Mickey, Rose, Cara and Sarah Jane got out of Sarah Jane's car; walking towards the school.
"Rose, Sarah and Cara, you go to the Maths room. Crack open those computers, I need to see the hardware inside. Here, you might need this." The Doctor instructed handing his sonic to Sarah Jane, making Rose scowl, dropping her hand.
"Keep an eye on Cara, no buts." The Doctor added, stopping the younger's protest before it began. "Sarah Jane, don't let her out of your site." The Doctor said, turning to Sarah Jane, who nodded. "Mickey, surveillance. I want you outside."
"Just stand outside?" Mickey asked, Sarah Jane tossed him her car keys. "Here, take these, you can keep K9 company." she said.
"Don't forget to leave the window open a crack." The Doctor reminded him.
"But he's metal!"
"I didn't mean for him."
"What're you gonna do?" Rose asked, glancing at the Doctor.
"It's time I had a word with Mr Finch."
"It's not working!" Sarah Jane said irritably, coming out from one of the desks, holding out the sonic. Rose was sitting next to her on one of the chairs, shooting Cara dark looks. Cara was sitting on top of one of the desks, quietly swinging her legs.
"Give it to me." Rose said, taking the sonic, rolling her eyes before ducking underneath the desk. "Used to work first time in my day." Sarah Jane said lightly.
"Well, things were a lot simpler back then." Rose snapped, turning on the sonic, Cara hearing his familiar whirrs and buzzes. "Rose, can I give you a bit of advice?" Sarah Jane asked. Cara quietly sliding off the desk not wanting to hear this.
Walking down the line of computers, Cara caught site of a shadow quickly moving past the door. Glancing behind her at the two bickering woman.
"I've got a feeling you're about to."
"I know how intense a relationship with the Doctor can be, and I don't want you to feel I'm intruding..."
"I don't feel threatened by you if that's what you mean."
Edging to the moving shadow, Cara opened the door, looking back and forth though the empty hall. Nothing. She probably was just seeing things.
"Right. Good. Because, I'm not interested in picking up where we left off."
"No? With the big sad eyes and the robot dog? What else were you doing last night?"
"I was just saying how hard it was adjusting to life back on Earth…"
Turning around, stepping back inside about to find a computer to break into. She felt something lunge forwards covering her mouth, before she could scream.
"The thing is... when you two met... they'd only just got rid of rationing. No wonder all that space stuff was a bit too much for ya."
"I had no problem with space stuff. I saw things you wouldn't believe."
The thing's grip was tight, Cara fighting against it; kicking her legs about like mad, in attempt to get them to notice her. They seemed to busy arguing about how much 'space stuff' they saw.
"Try me."
"Mummies."
"I've met ghosts."
'Seriously?' Cara inwardly moaned. The thing pulled her out into the corridor. Dragging her down the hall, Cara eventually, elbowing the thing hard enough. Turning to run, before Mr Wagner and the other Krillitane teacher caught her.
Mr Wagner, pounced grabbing her by her arms, his other hand covering her mouth again, the other teacher appeared holding a jar of Krillitane oil and a big spoon.
Mr Wagner moved his hand. "Doc-!" before she could finished, the other Krillitane, shoving the oil into her mouth. Cara gagged, making a face. 'Gross!'
"Careful." Mr Finch said, Mr Wagner covering her mouth again. Cara noticing he had thick gloves on. 'Doctor! Doctor! Doctor! Help me!'
"She's the Time child."
"It's Tot." Cara corrected, sounding muffled with the gloves blocking her mouth. Mr Finch smiled. "Apologies." Mr Finch said, his eyes snaking over her. "I wouldn't waste your energy trying to contact the Doctor." he said, bending down to her height, smiling. "You have much more important things to do after all."
"How's it going?" the Doctor asked, walking into the Computer Lab. Rose and Sarah Jane laughed harder. "What? Listen, I need to find out what's programmed inside these."
They took no notice of him, half fall down in laughter. The Doctor furrowed his eyebrows. "What? Stop it!" he said quietly, like a puppy who had incidentally knocked something over.
"Sarah! Rose!" the Doctor said sharply, looking around the room. "Where's Cara?"
"I can't find her!" the Doctor growled, putting his sonic between his teeth, ripping a handful of wires out of a computer; hanging them around his neck. "I can't find her!" he repeated, Rose and Sarah Jane running around the room, looking under all the tables and closets.
"I can't find her!" he shouted, running the sonic along the back of the computer. "I can't shift it." The Doctor hissed. "I thought the sonic screwdriver could open anything!" Sarah Jane cried.
"Anything except a deadlock seal. Finch. He must had done something, given her Krillitane oil, something in that is messing with our telepathic connect. There's gotta be something inside here. What're they teaching those kids?" he said setting down the laptop.
The room was silent, as the last of the Krillitanes attached the big wires to Cara's computer in Mr Finch's office. "You'll lose, you know." she said suddenly. "Lose what?" Mr Finch asked, plugging in the headphones.
One of the other Krillitanes, keeping a tight hold on Cara. (Especially after she gave one of the crazy lunch ladies a good hard kick.) They didn't like that. "This. Your plan will fail, The Doctor will beat you."
Mr Finch smiled, putting the headphones on her ear. "We'll see my dear, we'll see."
The screen lit up. Instantly Cara snapped to attention, typing furiously on the keyboard.
"We'll see."
"You wanted the program, there it is." Sarah Jane said, as every laptop in the computer lab lit up displaying the green codes. "Some sort of code…" the Doctor mumbled, staring at it wide-eyed. "No...No…they can't be...The Skasis Paradigm. They're trying to crack the Skasis Paradigm."
"The Skasis what?" Sarah Jane asked, the Doctor still staring at the screen, the pieces all clicking into place. "The...God-maker. The universal theory. Crack that equation and you've got control of the building blocks of the universe. Time and space and matter, yours to control."
"What, and the kids are like a giant computer?" Rose guessed.
"Yes." The Doctor answered, pacing up and down. "And their learning power is being accelerated by the oil! That oil from the kitchens, it works as a...as a... conducting agent. Why Cara's been able to calculate setats, could be why I can't find Cara. Her minds too hyperactive…the oil makes the kids cleverer."
"But that oil's on the chips. I've been eating them." Rose said. "What's fifty-nine times thirty-five?" the Doctor asked quickly. "Two thousand and sixty five." Rose answered instantly. "Oh my God..."
"But why use children? Can't they use adults?"
"No, it's gotta be children. The God-maker needs imagination to crack it. They're not just using the children's brains to break the code...they're using their souls. And they must be using Cara as their spearhead, like a beacon to focus on."
"Let the lesson begin." Mr Finch said, walking in. The Doctor turned to face him, his face set. "Where's my daughter?"
"Think of it, Doctor, with the Paradigm solved, reality becomes clay in our hands. We can shape the universe and improve it." Mr Finch replied, ignoring the Doctor's question.
"Oh yeah? The whole of creation with the face of Mr Finch. Call me old fashioned, but I like things as they are."
"You act like such a radical, and yet all you want to do is preserve the old order. Think of the changes that could be made if this power was used for good." Mr Finch continued.
"What, by someone like you?" the Doctor said sceptically. "No...Someone like you." The Doctor said nothing, clearing not expecting that answer.
"The Paradigm gives us power, but you could give us wisdom. Become a God. At my side. Imagine what you could do, think of the civilizations you could save. Perganon, Assinta...your own people, Doctor. Standing tall. The Time Lords... reborn. Think of your daughter, how happy she would be…You'd be her hero…"
The Doctor still said nothing, staring deep into Mr Finch's eyes; unable to look away.
"Doctor, don't listen to him." Sarah Jane said staring at him worriedly, the Doctor looked conflicted.
"And you could be with him throughout eternity. Young...fresh... never wither, never age...never die." Finch said, turning to Sarah Jane. "Their lives are so fleeting. So many goodbyes. How lonely you must be, Doctor. Join us." he said looking back at the Doctor.
He had a faraway look in his eyes...the offer was so tempting, he'd never lose anyone again, he'd never had to tell Cara what he'd done. "I could save everyone..."
"Yes."
"I could stop the war..." the Doctor whispered. A small smile graced across Mr Finch's lips.
"No. The universe has to move forward. Pain and loss, they define us as much as happiness or love." Sarah Jane said desperately. "Whether it's a world, or a relationship...everything has its time. And everything ends."
The Doctor stared; his eyes drifting towards Sarah Jane taking her words in.
'They're not just using the children's brains to break the code...they're using their souls. And they must be using Cara as their spearhead, like a beacon to focus on. Cara as their spearhead. They're using their souls.'
They were trying to manipulate him, use him. Use Cara. Use her soul. The Doctor's eyes locked onto the screen.
The Doctor gritted his teeth, rushing past Mr Finch grabbing a chair; hurdling the chair though the screen smashing it to bits.
"Out!"
A loud screech echoed through the school. As the Doctor, Rose and Sarah Jane ran into Mickey and Kenny. "What is going on?" Mickey asked, just as three Krillitanes half flew, half climbed their way towards them.
The Doctor and the others turned on their heels; running down the hallways the Krillitanes behind them.
Running into the lunch hall finding the door to be locked, the Doctor reached into his coat pulling out his sonic. Mr Finch burst through the doors; followed by his Krillitane brothers and sisters.
"Are they my teachers?" Kenny asked, he and the others crouching under the tables and chairs. "Yeah. Sorry." The Doctor answered, edging towards a chair.
"Leave the Doctor alive. As for the others...you can feast." Mr Finch ordered. The Krillitanes swooped down on them.
The Doctor swinging a chair around widely as the others, tried to duck out of the way, screaming.
Suddenly, one of the Krillitanes was shot down with red laser beam as K9 wheeled into the room. Mr Finch roared loudly.
"K9!" Sarah Jane cried. "Suggest you engage running mode, mistress." K9 instructed, continuing to blast the Krillitanes as the other took off running. "Come on!" the Doctor shouted. "K9, hold them back!" the Doctor called over his shoulder as the others ran out.
"Affirmative, master. Maximum defence mode!"
The Doctor pushed a door open. "Come on!" he shouted, ushering them inside, slamming the door shut, locking it with his sonic screwdriver.
"It's the oil." The Doctor said suddenly, looking up the others all sitting in silence in the empty classroom. "Krillitane life forms can't handle the oil! That's it! They've changed the physiology so often, even their own oil is toxic to them. How much was there in the kitchens?"
"Barrels of it." Rose answered, getting up as the Krillitanes reached the door, clawing and pounding against it. Just then a loud boom rang out, making the whole room shake.
"Wait, what was that?!" Mickey cried, gripping onto the table. "They broke the first code." The Doctor said gravely. "We need to get Cara and the kids out of there. Okay, we need to get to the kitchens. Mickey-"
"What now, hold the coats?" Mickey sassed.
"Get all the children unplugged and out of the school. Mickey if you do find Cara get her out of here. Keep her safe," the Doctor said, staring deep into his eyes. Mickey swallowed, nodding his head. "Yeah."
"Now then, bats, bats, bats, how do we fight bats?"
Kenny strode over to a fire alarm setting it off. The Krillitanes moaned in pain, at the sound; the Doctor grinned flinging the door open, running past them. The Krillitanes in too much pain to hurt them.
"Come on!"
"Doctor! We don't have time for this!" Rose shouted, as the Doctor and Sarah Jane burst every classroom door open shouting for Cara. "Then help me!" he shouted back, running out of the last classroom, running his fingers through his hair.
"Where could he be keeping her? Where is she? CARA!" The Doctor shouted, looking around widely. "Where else could they keep her? There's no more-" Sarah Jane paused her eyes lighting up. "The office! The Principles office!" she cried out, running in the direction of it.
"But the kitchen is this way!" Rose shouted, pointing in the opposite direction. The Doctor ran past her following Sarah Jane. "Urgh!" Rose growled, running after them.
Bursting though Mr Finch's office door, the Doctor ran in.
Cara was typing like mad, her eyes completely locked onto the computer screen all the cords linking up to her computer. Rushing forwards, waving a hand over her eyes, the Doctor starting to pull off her headphones.
The second he did, a buzz of electricity shot though her, making her wince in pain. The Doctor released the headphones instantly, buzzing his sonic around them.
Pulling them off, the Doctor bent down, giving her a gently shake.
"Cara. Cara, listen to me: you need to wake up now." The Doctor whispered into her ear. Cara blinked, her gaze unmoving from the screen. "Doctor, there coming." Sarah Jane said, from the door; she, Rose, Kenny and K9 waiting there.
The Doctor sighed. "I'm sorry," he whispered, pressing a hand against her head. Cara's eyes rolled back, falling asleep instantly.
Untying her from her bonds, the Doctor picked her up, cradling in his arms like a baby. "Lets' go."
Reaching the kitchens, the Doctor buzzing the oil barrels with his sonic, Cara tucked into the crook of his neck. "They've been deadlock sealed!" he said, trying another. "Finch must've done that. I can't open them."
"The vats would not withstand a direct hit from my laser." K9 reported. "But my batteries are failing."
The Doctor gazed around the room. "Right. Everyone out the back door. K9, stay with me." The Doctor instructed, as Sarah Jane, Rose and Kenny ran out the backdoor.
The Doctor gently set Cara down on the floor, crouched before K9, whipping out his sonic. "You are worried, Master." K9 said, as the Doctor began tinkering with his wires. "Yes."
"For the young mistress?" K9 asked, his ears waving. "For Cara?"
The Doctor said noting, giving K9 his battery boost beginning to move the barrels of oil closer to K9 for a direct shot.
"Capacity for only one shot, Master. For maximum impact, I must be placed directly beside the vat." K9 said, the Doctor rushing over to him. "But you'll be trapped inside."
"That is correct."
"I can't let you do that."
"No alternative possible, Master."
The Doctor glanced over his shoulder, as a loud Krillitane screech rang out from behind them. The Doctor looked at K9, understanding what has to be done. "Goodbye, old friend."
"Goodbye Master."
The Doctor stared down at K9; his eyes warm, but sad. "You good dog."
"Affirmative." K9 replied, waging his ears and tail. The Doctor placed his hand on K9's head, his hand briefly on K9's face, turning around picking up Cara, giving K9 one final look, before pushing open the door.
Coming out outside the Doctor, turned around locking the door behind him with his sonic. "Mff, w...wha-whas happening?" Cara slurred, opening her eyes, squinting at the light.
"Where's K9?" Sarah Jane asked, directly out of the door. "We need to run." The Doctor said, turning around starting to run. "Where is he?! What've you done?!" Sarah Jane cried, sounding close to tears.
Cara wriggled out of the Doctor's grip, taking a tight hold of the Doctor's hand, grabbing one of Sarah Jane's, the Doctor grabbing her other hand as they pulled her away.
The Doctor grabbed Sarah Jane's hand with his left hand, taking Cara's with his right, as they ran, behind there was a loud boom, as the school exploded.
The children erupted in cheers and screams of delight, dancing around as the papers floated down on them. The chants of: "Kenny! Kenny! Kenny!" from the screaming children. Cara, the Doctor and Sarah Jane watching the joy.
The weight of the loss of K9 seemed to weigh down on the two of them. Cara felt it from both sides, but she mainly felt sick. Her head hurt, her body hurt. Everything hurt.
"I'm sorry." The Doctor said quietly. "It's all right." Sarah Jane said quickly. "He was just a... daft metal dog. Fine, really." she said, before bursting into tears. The Doctor wrapped and arm around her, pulling her close, hugging her tightly as she cried.
The moment was beautiful, while painful.
Cara hated that she ruined it, by puking her guts out just ten seconds later.
"Better?" the Doctor asked, tucking some hair behind her ear. Cara glared at him in a 'what do you think look.' The Doctor smiled. "Bad question?"
"Very." she croaked out, she was paler than usual, but feeling much better after she emptied her stomach. The Doctor pulled her close, humming under his breath. Cara shut her eyes, leaning into him. "What is that?" she asked.
"Hmm?"
"What you're humming."
The Doctor shrugged. "A song." he said simply patting her bed, her warm cosy safe bed in the TARDIS, oh she missed it. "You should get some rest. Sleep off it off. Best medicine there is." he said, pulling the covers over her, tucking her tight in the warm sheets. "I'll er…let you sleep." The Doctor said, getting up about to leave the room.
"Doc?" Cara called out suddenly. "Yeah?" the Doctor asked, turning around, his hand on the doorframe. "Can…would…could, you stay with me…please." she said shyly, have hiding her face under the thick covers.
The Doctor smiled. "Sure," he said casually, sitting back down on the bed. Cara smiled to herself, shutting her eyes.
Knowing she would be fine.
THE NEXT DAY.
'Is she here yet? Doc? Doc? Doctor? Doctarrr?' Cara sang in her head, as she rocked back and forth on the TARDIS floor. Rose and Mickey were conversing behind her, the Doctor just stepping outside, when he caught site of what might have been Sarah Jane.
'Do you think she like the surprise? Doc?'
'Relax would you.' he chuckled. 'She's coming.'
Sarah Jane though the TARDIS doors, her eyes lighting up with a powerful glow. "Sarah Jane!" Cara cried, jumping up, half tacking her to the floor with her hug. "Oh! Hello!" Sarah Jane said happily, hugging her back tightly. "Feeling better?"
"Much." Cara replied, stepping back letting her take in the room. "You've redecorated!" Sarah Jane said, gazing around the TARDIS, glancing back at the Doctor; who had shut the doors.
"Do you like it?"
"Oh, I, I do. Yeah. I preferred it as it was, but uh... yeah. It'll do!"
"I love it." Rose interjected, smiling at Sarah Jane. "Hey, you, what's forty seven times three hundred and sixty nine?" Sarah Jane asked.
"No idea. It's gone now, the oil's faded."
"But you're still clever. More than a match for him."
"You and me both."
Cara smiled, at the two woman, happy that they seemed to have worked their differences out. "Doctor...?" Rose asked, prompting him for the reveal.
"Um... we're about to head off," the Doctor said, looking up from the console. "But... you could come with us." he offered, smiling up at her. "It'd be fun." Cara said, grinning from next to the Doctor.
"No... I can't do this anymore." Sarah Jane said softly, dimming the smiles slightly. "Besides, I've got a much bigger adventure ahead! Time I stopped waiting for you and found a life of my own." Sarah Jane said brightly.
"Can I come?" Mickey asked, suddenly. "Huh?" Cara asked, noticing Rose's suddenly sour face. "No, not with you, I mean...with you." Mickey said, gesturing to the Doctor. "Cause I'm not the tin dog. And I wanna see what's out there."
Rose turned to the Doctor, mouthing a quick 'no' at the Doctor. Cara furrowed her eyebrows. 'Why wouldn't Rose want Mickey to go with them?'
"Oh, go on, Doctor. Sarah Jane Smith, a Mickey Smith. You need a Smith on board!" Sarah Jane said encouragingly. "It'd be nice to have Mickey around." Cara said quietly. The Doctor glanced at her, before back at Mickey. "Okay then, I could do with a laugh."
Rose rolled her eyes. Mickey laughed in delight, stopping when he noticed Rose's not very happy face. "Rose, is that okay?" he asked.
"No, great. Why not?" she said disinterestedly. Cara and the Doctor shared a look.
'Awkward?'
'Awkward.'
There was an awkward silence. "Well, I'd better go." Sarah Jane said, taking Rose aside; Cara, Mickey and the Doctor busying themselves. 'Think she's gonna be okay?' Cara asked, glancing at the Doctor. The Doctor looked at Sarah Jane and Rose, nodding. 'I think she will be.'
'Think we can come visit?'
The Doctor smiled. 'Course we can.'
Sarah Jane stepped back, the Doctor waiting by the doors. Giving Cara one last hug and a whispered Goodbye.
Sarah Jane Smith stepped out of the TARDIS.
The Doctor holds open the doors for Sarah Jane, who steps out of the TARDIS for the last time. Sighing to herself, Cara leaned over the railings waiting as the Doctor walked in closing the TARDIS doors.
Giving her a passing hair ruffle (she'd been getting used to those.) He jumped up onto the console. Starting up the engines. The TARDIS Noise (as Cara had dubbed it) rang out. "Do you think she'll like it?" Cara asked, leaning against the console.
The Doctor smiled. "She's going to love it." He said, pulling down a lever as they vanished from site.
Leaving K9 behind them.
Hiya!
Super long chappy, for the super long wait! Sorry about that! Life is crazy, and when I did have time, writers block, smacked me in the gut! Hope this one makes up for it! The next few chappy's are gonna be a whirlwind of angst and fluff, so be prepared XD
Thoughts?
Thank you all for reading, reviewing, faving and following!
As usual please comment, review, fav, follow, PM, ect. :)
You all are amazing! Thank you for all the faves, follows and reviews!
Till next time…