Chapter Twenty Five
The Doctor carefully turned Sarah's limp body over. She looked as she did when they first met, though she may be younger, he decided after careful thought. She was stirring and his smile was spectacularly large. "Sarah, say something. Say anything!" he begged.
Sarah's eyes blinked with difficulty as she muzzily stated, "I'm hungry. I know you don't carry money but can we get a pizza and some jelly babies?" Sarah smiled up at him. She'd done it; she'd destroyed the Daleks and regenerated but perhaps most importantly, she was with the Doctor.
From the distance the pair could hear Sevrin running across the field calling, "Sarah Jane! Sarah Jane!"
Sarah pulled on the Doctor's arm and he helped her to stand. She was a little shaky on her feet but she knew this too would pass. She smiled up at the Doctor.
The Doctor bent down and kissed her passionately on the lips. This was it. He finally had his reward. All he'd been living for was in his arms and in his hearts. Finally releasing her, he allowed Sevrin to hug her as he looked up and smiled. He had so much to be thankful for.
"So Sevrin, fancy a trip to Moonbase Alpha?" Sarah asked as Sevrin returned her to her feet after picking her up.
"No thank you Sarah Jane. With the Daleks gone, my people can begin again. This can be a peaceful planet."
"You're right Sevrin. With Bettan's help and…" the Doctor began before being reminded by Sarah.
"Bettan and everyone that were being held prisoner with you are on Moonbase Alpha. So we'll need to return everyone to the planet." Sarah said, the smile on her face telling him all.
"Right, Sevrin we'll bring back your friends." the Doctor said as his hand went around Sarah's back to help support her. Sevrin simply nodded before embracing Sarah again and headed for the wastelands as the Doctor and Sarah headed for Eagle Four.
On Moonbase Alpha, the entire base watched the Doctor pick up Sarah and the two kiss. Cheers of delight were heard all over the base. In Command Center papers were flung in the air. John and Helena were kissing as were Tony and Maya. Alan, Sahn and the rest of the Command Center personnel were hugging and laughing, many with tears streaming down their faces after observing a rare happy ending. They realized that now they too had a chance at a happy ending, something most never dreamed they'd see in their lifetime.
On Skaro the Doctor and Sarah were settling into the pilots seats. The Doctor watched as Sarah made adjustments to the instruments, his face full of pride. "So, you can fly now?" he asked.
Without looking over and with a smile on her face she answered, "Not on my own but with an Eagle, yea I can fly." She turned and met his eyes. "Not scared are you?" she asked as she watched him tighten his harness.
"Me scared?" he said with mock surprise. Never, not as long as I'm with you."
Sarah flipped a few switches and called, "Moonbase Alpha, Moonbase Alpha this is Eagle Four, permission to return to base."
"Eagle Four permission granted but you better step on it. The Moon's on the move. We'll be waiting for you." Alan called excitedly then added, "Good job pilot."
Sarah smiled. "Thank you Captain. Eagle Four out." She looked over at the Doctor who had an odd look on his face. "What?" she asked.
"I'm just very impressed. When I left you, you had a thing about heights. Now you're flying through space without a second thought."
"I know. Great isn't it?" Sarah looked out as she passed over the former Kaled bunker. What was once the Kaled Bunker was now a large and very deep hole in the ground, nothing left behind that would indicate what had stood there before. It had burned hot enough to vaporize everything the fire touched.
"I should have listened to you ages ago." the Doctor stated solemnly.
"You didn't know. We stopped what we could before. This time we were able to do more." Sarah said knowing this would only stop these particular Daleks. She doubted this would have much effect on the ripples of time as far as the Dalek were concerned but for now…
"Let's hope it's enough…for a while anyway." the Doctor stated.
Trying to get them out of their mindset regarding the Daleks and all of the death and destruction they had so recently engaged in, Sarah asked, "So, once we get the Kaleds, Thals and Mutos back to Skaro, I'm assuming you'll get the Alphans home, right?"
"That's the plan. It's the very least I can do." the Doctor admitted with a sly smile.
"And the Moon? What about that?" Sarah asked. She couldn't imagine Earth without its Moon and its benefits to the Earth, though they must have figured out a way around that by now, she mused.
"That I have to think on. I need to contact Kate and see what she thinks."
"Kate? Don't you mean the Brigadier?" Sarah asked. Who was Kate? The only Kate she knew was the Brigadier's young daughter.
"That's right." He could see the thought going through her head. "Unit is now run by Kate Lethbridge Stewart." He watched her face dim slightly. "It's all right. They're all still fine. I saw them all before I headed out looking for you. The Brigadier, Harry, Benton even Yates, they're all fine. They're older but fine." He looked out the window as they flew through space. "Do you remember?"
"Remember? Remember what?" she asked.
"All the years that passed?" He knew that for humans, time passed slowly and he didn't want to believe that she'd suffered because of all the time they'd lost together.
"Yes in a fashion anyway." Sarah looked over at the Doctor and wasn't sure how to describe her time as Elisabeth Baker. "Sometimes, when I was Elisabeth Baker, I almost felt like me," she patted her chest, "like Sarah. But then there were times I was just Elisabeth going through my life, going through the motions of every day and living day to day. Then when I was on Alpha, it was more of the same but in a different place."
"Are you sorry that we did this?" he asked soberly, afraid of her answer.
"Sorry? No, never would I ever be sorry. We did what we had to do and now we're together." Sarah could see the Doctor was planning on dissecting this situation but now wasn't the time. "Listen to me." she began as she reached out for his hand. When they'd clasped hands, she began, "We're together and for me that's all that counts. We stopped the Daleks on Skaro and gave the planet back to its rightful inhabitants. We're going to take the Alphans and maybe the Moon back to Earth. Now what more could you ask?" Before he could answer she added, "Maybe this was all meant to be. You have to admit we're righting a lot of wrongs today."
"You're right, as usual. I bet there will be a party on the Moon tonight. Now how many times can you say that and mean it?" he admitted. There would be plenty of time for self-recrimination he decided. He was also reminded that he still needed to tell Sarah about the Time War and his more than likely unpopular solution. But that would come another day. She was right, it was time to celebrate. They had both survived yet another fight with the Daleks and they were saving her friends. He smiled as he watched Sarah handle the controls of the Eagle as Moonbase Alpha loomed closer.
"Moonbase Alpha this is Eagle Four on final descent." Sarah called.
"Eagle Four you are cleared to land on Launchpad Two. Welcome back!" Alan Carter called.
"Good to be back Alpha. Eagle Four out." Sarah flipped the switch as she landed the Eagle with precision. She looked over at the Doctor. "Admit it, you're surprised."
He watched the automatic system take over as they were lowered below ground and smiled. "At your ability to fly this crate?"
"This crate?" she countered as the pair climbed out of their seats and headed into the passenger module. "Why you…"
The Doctor pulled her into his arms and kissed her with all the desire bubbling within him. After their lips parted he admitted, "I was just winding you up. I'm actually very proud of you and all that you've accomplished." He kissed her again and their arms were wrapped around one another when the door to the Eagle opened.
"Uh…sorry." Alan Carter said as he stopped short of running into the pair. The Doctor and Sarah just laughed. "I can go out and…Sarah Jane you look so very…young."
The Doctor had one arm around Sarah's waist and placed his other around Alan's shoulders. "You know Alan, I like you. Your timing sucks, but I like you." The Doctor squeezed the pair.
"The Commander and everyone that could fit inside are waiting for you two in the cafeteria for a party." Alan announced his face red with embarrassment.
"My Tardis is…?" the Doctor asked.
"Is right where you left it." He reached into his jacket pocket. "The Commander said to give you this." He handed the Doctor the Tardis key.
"Thanks, now did you say something about a party?" the Doctor asked as he led Sarah hand in hand down the corridor with Alan bringing up the rear.
As the trio entered the cafeteria, it was obvious to see that a jovial atmosphere had pervaded the base. Those that they passed that were still working had a smile on their face and appeared to be genuinely happy. The Doctor and Sarah smiled at one another. Alan whispered conspiratorially, "It's all over the base we're going home." He stopped and Sarah and the Doctor almost ran into him. He looked back and asked, "We are still going home, right?"
As one, the Doctor and Sarah answered, "Yes."
With that Alan's smile resumed as did their journey forward. "Wait a minute." said the Doctor suddenly.
"What?" Sarah asked.
"What's a party without some champagne?" the Doctor said as he put one finger up in the air. "I have quite a supple in my Tardis, if you don't mind helping to carry it Alan.
"I'll go you one better than that." Alan stopped and stuck his head in a maintenance closet they'd just passed. He pulled out a small flatbed cart.
"Perfect Alan, you're a man after my own hearts." the Doctor beamed as the trio turned around and headed for the Tardis.
After a few turns they had arrived. The Doctor walked over and wrapped his arms around the Tardis and planted a big kiss on the door. "Oh old girl, I can't tell you how I've missed you."
Sarah who was leaning against the wall asked, "Would you two like to be alone?"
"Tell me you didn't miss her too. And don't lie because I know you did." he said as he unlocked the door. He held the door open without taking his eyes off her and swept his arm across. "After you Miss." He was looking forward to seeing Sarah's reaction to all the changes the Tardis had made. Gone were the bright lights, pristine white walls and the multitude of roundels. Instead it was he who was surprised. The Tardis had decided to ease Sarah into her transition. When he looked inside the lights were bright, the walls were white and the multitude of roundels were back. The metal ramp and the new organic central console was the same but where there had once been a torn jump seat was now a comfortable emerald jewel toned velvet bench. The Tardis had really gone all out to welcome Sarah home. Even the brass railing had a shiny polished look to it.
Sarah was overcome with emotion at seeing her beloved home away from home. It was easy to see that changes had been made. She ran her hand along the railing then the central console, which almost seemed to purr and come to life at her touch. She went over and sat down on the seat. "I love it and this is very nice." she said as she stroked the velvet. But it was the object in the far corner that caught her attention and choked her up. Standing in the far corner of the room was the old wooden coat stand. Draped eloquently across it was her Doctor's never ending scarf. She rose from her seat and walked over, removing it from the stand and rubbed it across her cheek.
"I guess the old girl wanted to welcome you home Sarah." he said as he embraced her from behind. Sarah leaned back enjoying the attention and the feeling of home.
"I don't get it." Alan began. "When we left here just a few hours ago, it looked…well, it looked different."
"I told you she was sentient." the Doctor reminded him.
"Yes but…"
"But nothing! She wanted to welcome Sarah home and this is how she did it. Now," he squeezed Sarah's shoulders, "you stay here while Alan and I go get the champagne. You really should be resting you know."
"I'm fine. I'll just stay here though and enjoy the Tardis." The Tardis always had a particular hum, almost an unperceivable rhythm that could calm her when nothing else could, nothing else with the exception of the Doctor that is. She pulled the scarf to her chest and sat on the velvet bench and prepared to wait on the Doctor and Alan.