The Doctor set the coordinates for Little Hodcombe. As the rotor began to
rise and fall he felt as though he had forgotten something. Someone had
offered him tea. And they were going to discuss something. The Doctor
shook the thoughts away as he sat on the floor and opened Tegan's journal.
Other thoughts entered his mind. Tegan's entries had shown him how she had
cared for him. And Leela, that sweet savage, had known how the Doctor felt
about Tegan. She could see it in the way he looked at her. What would
their lives have been like if only they had admitted it to each other?
"Entry 17
" Tegan's log. Stardate 1030452..ahh who the hell knows. I thought I had lost the Doctor today. I thought he had been thrown overboard from Wrack's ship. That blasted Eternal Mariner felt my loss. Read my emotions. I had been able to block him most of the time. No small feat. I was quite proud of myself. After the Mara, the Doctor had taught me how to shield my mind from others. But when I thought the Doctor and Turlough were dead, all of those barriers crumbled. I really don't know how long I can keep doing this. The Doctor and I just talked in the cloister room. Almost losing him really made me realize some things. I was so close to admitting how I feel about him. But all I could do was give him a little awkward hug and tell him I was glad he was okay."
"Entry 18"
"The Master turned up again. That murdering bastard just can't stay down. I wish that knife had gone right into his twisted excuse for a brain. We beat him of course. But I know I haven't seen the last of him. Maybe some day I'll learn just how connected he and the Doctor are. The Doctor threatened to take me back to earth this time. Of course it was a lame attempt to get a rise out of me. Which worked damn him. He made me admit I wanted to stay with him. Maybe that was the point. So we're heading to the Eye of Orion. Supposedly one of the most beautiful places in the universe. Even Turlough's been there. He said there many wonders in the universe he wanted to show me. To show ME. Maybe I'm reading too much into it but I think he's starting to realize a few things as well."
"Entry 19"
"There will never be another entry like this one. I met all of the Doctor's former selves this time. Well all except the last one but I already knew him. The most memorable bit was meeting the Doctor's grand daughter. When my Doctor saw her, I could see the love in his eyes. And pain. I never realized he had a family. A wife and children. I can only imagine what happened. I know that he left Gallifrey on unfriendly terms. I wonder if the Master was somehow involved. I met another companion of his as well. Sarah Jane Smith. He has always spoken fondly of her. She, like me, also witnessed regeneration. She was with the Doctor a long time and suddenly without warning he left her. Took her home and left. If "Teeth and Curls" had been there, I'm sure she would have given him a good thrashing. Just like I gave mine for leaving me. I wonder if he'll do it again."
"Entry 20"
"Seems like we keep running into more and more of the Doctor's past. This time it was Silurians and Sea Devils. Unit had blown up a Silurian base during the Doctor's time with them and it caused quite a rift between him and the Brigadier. This time wasn't much different, because we were forced to destroy them. The Doctor made a remark about earth and humans that startled me. The sheer disgust in his voice when he said humans. It made me realize that no matter how he appears to be, he is an alien. He's been very detached for the last couple of days. Barely speaking to Turlough or me. It's too late for me to rethink my feelings for him though. There's no turning back."
"Entry 21"
"The Doctor finally snapped out of his depression. We just spent the last week with my Grandfather. Danger turned up there as well. The Malice. Once again we were victorious. The Doctor and grandfather talked for hours about history. The Doctor took me to dinner in a nearby village. Stockbridge. I asked the Doctor if he would ever stop running. He surprised me by saying he would one-day return to Gallifrey. And then he surprised me even further by asking me if I would be leaving now. He seemed so relieved when I told him no. Even more so when I referred to the TARDIS as home. The smile he gave me was.I don't know. It just said more than any words could have at that moment."
The TARDIS had materialized just outside Little Hodcombe Cemetery. The Doctor uncurled his hat and walked out into the cold toward Tegan's grave. He remembered the service and how Tegan's family had frowned upon him and Turlough. Tegan's grandfather had welcomed them though. Varney had honored him with his words.
"My grand daughter did not die because of you Doctor. She lived because of you."
He knelt down and touched the headstone, tears running down his cheek.
"My condolences Doctor"
The dark voice neither startled nor surprised him. The Master walked slowly toward the Doctor and knelt beside him.
"She was very special to you, I know."
"Then this should make you happy."
"Oh Doctor. Come now. This reminds me too much of another grave. All those centuries ago on Gallifrey. I am not without compassion Doctor. I was your friend then. And so in honor of that and in honor of Tegan I will be your friend now. Just long enough to tell you what you already probably know."
"The time streams."
"Are seriously disrupted Doctor yes. And I'll tell you this. Tegan wasn't supposed to die. Look."
The Master gestured toward the grave and the headstone seemed to dissolve away. And then so did the Master.
The Doctor re-entered the TARDIS and set the coordinates for Morocco. He knew he had to find out what was happening and soon. If the time stream was damaged, Peri would be far safer with him in the TARDIS. Could the Master have been right? Was Tegan supposed to live? Was her death a temporal disruption? Too many questions and no answers. His only link to her now was her journal. There had to be some kind of clue there.
"Entry 22"
"We just dropped off the Gravis on some little asteroid. TARDIS seems to really be acting odd since it was reassembled." The picture began to shake as the Doctor heard his own voice in the background.
"Tegan come to the console room, something's happening to the TARDIS."
The Doctor looked at the journal somewhat confused.
"I don't remember that. There was a problem but I never called her to the console room." He said but before much more thought could be given to it the next entry began.
"Entry 23"
"We've been trying to get back to Frontios for 3 months now. Hopefully Turlough is okay. We'll get back soon enough. He'll never even know we were gone so long. 2 days ago I almost died in a freezer. How stupid is that. I've fought too many madmen and monsters to die in a bloody freezer. A lot of good came out of it though. The Doctor and I played 20 questions to pass the time. I got a little too personal with him and he with me. But he really opened up to me. I know about Gallifrey and now I even know his real name. Can't pronounce it so I'll keep calling him Doctor. We were in the freezer quite a while and I almost died. I think it shook him up. A lot. After I recovered, we both let our emotions overwhelm us. And before we really knew what we were doing, we were in each other's arms. I just left his room. He is still asleep. This is what I've wanted for so long. What's that saying? Be careful what you wish for. Brave heart, Tegan."
The Doctor closed his eyes knowing that had never happened but longed desperately That it had. The journal started again.
"Entry 23"
"Cripes, I don't have a clue in hell what the actual date is, but I'll just continue as I have already in this journal. It's after Frontios. We just left Tranax Seven. I had those thoughts about him again. And when you read this, Tegan-girl, sometime in later life.you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. I still don't know why he took me there, but I'm not complaining. I loved it. It was beautiful.in that stained glass in the church window type way. And the sounds..Lord..it was incredible.
If he were just a man, if he were anything less than what he is, I might be able to make him love me someday. But he isn't. I think I've finally gotten that through my head. I've been thankful daily that my run over mouth hasn't just blurted it out to him. I think he would have dropped me off on Earth so quickly, my head would spin. Believe it or not, journal, I'm just glad to be here. With him. With Turlough. In the TARDIS. I might not like everywhere we end up, but if I'm with my friends, I can survive anything.
Oh, blast. He's calling. Apparently, he's found Frontios. I didn't know it was lost. Righto, better get a move on.he sounds manic again."
Again an entry 23 and again no memory of the events.
"Entry 23. There is no saved data for entry 23. Do you wish to record new data."
A flash of white and the Doctor was once again surrounded by candles in the Tardis of his future self.
"Pretty obvious now isn't it?" The older Doctor asked. "We are spread throughout alternate time. Our time stream has been fractured."
The younger Doctor sipped his tea and fidgeted with Tegan's Journal.
"Entry 22. Something happened to the TARDIS. But it didn't, it didn't happen that way."
"No it didn't. And in my time stream. Tegan didn't die. She left me in the warehouse not telling me she was pregnant with Angelina. I just met my daughter over a year ago. And I'm happy to say that my relationship with Tegan is wonderful. Its also apparent in my memories that Tegan left me in the warehouse, and later married having two children named Michael and Amy. I met her again some time after her husband's death and basically was willing to adopt her children and marry her. Until my regeneration caused that to be unfeasible and so now I'm Uncle Thete. And then of course Tegan didn't leave and I took her to a carnival to mend our friendship. And then she did leave and I passed her and her boyfriend in a convertible just last week."
"How do we fix this?" The younger Doctor asked.
"Isn't the answer obvious. It's Tegan. She wasn't supposed to die. And because she did, our timestream has been fractured."
"No it's not her death. Can't be. That's part of an alternative time stream. So something happened before that. In the journal when we were returning to Frontios, the TARDIS went through some kind of turbulence. I dismissed it at the time. The TARDIS itself had been fractured just prior to that."
A brilliant white light almost blinded them but unlike other times it was not a disturbance of their memories. A voice that seemed to be everywhere at once spoke to them. And as it did it took form and stood before them. The White Guardian.
"Doctor, the universe will unravel unless the fabric of time is restored. This is the task I require of you and your other selves. Bring me the Key to Time."
"Entry 17
" Tegan's log. Stardate 1030452..ahh who the hell knows. I thought I had lost the Doctor today. I thought he had been thrown overboard from Wrack's ship. That blasted Eternal Mariner felt my loss. Read my emotions. I had been able to block him most of the time. No small feat. I was quite proud of myself. After the Mara, the Doctor had taught me how to shield my mind from others. But when I thought the Doctor and Turlough were dead, all of those barriers crumbled. I really don't know how long I can keep doing this. The Doctor and I just talked in the cloister room. Almost losing him really made me realize some things. I was so close to admitting how I feel about him. But all I could do was give him a little awkward hug and tell him I was glad he was okay."
"Entry 18"
"The Master turned up again. That murdering bastard just can't stay down. I wish that knife had gone right into his twisted excuse for a brain. We beat him of course. But I know I haven't seen the last of him. Maybe some day I'll learn just how connected he and the Doctor are. The Doctor threatened to take me back to earth this time. Of course it was a lame attempt to get a rise out of me. Which worked damn him. He made me admit I wanted to stay with him. Maybe that was the point. So we're heading to the Eye of Orion. Supposedly one of the most beautiful places in the universe. Even Turlough's been there. He said there many wonders in the universe he wanted to show me. To show ME. Maybe I'm reading too much into it but I think he's starting to realize a few things as well."
"Entry 19"
"There will never be another entry like this one. I met all of the Doctor's former selves this time. Well all except the last one but I already knew him. The most memorable bit was meeting the Doctor's grand daughter. When my Doctor saw her, I could see the love in his eyes. And pain. I never realized he had a family. A wife and children. I can only imagine what happened. I know that he left Gallifrey on unfriendly terms. I wonder if the Master was somehow involved. I met another companion of his as well. Sarah Jane Smith. He has always spoken fondly of her. She, like me, also witnessed regeneration. She was with the Doctor a long time and suddenly without warning he left her. Took her home and left. If "Teeth and Curls" had been there, I'm sure she would have given him a good thrashing. Just like I gave mine for leaving me. I wonder if he'll do it again."
"Entry 20"
"Seems like we keep running into more and more of the Doctor's past. This time it was Silurians and Sea Devils. Unit had blown up a Silurian base during the Doctor's time with them and it caused quite a rift between him and the Brigadier. This time wasn't much different, because we were forced to destroy them. The Doctor made a remark about earth and humans that startled me. The sheer disgust in his voice when he said humans. It made me realize that no matter how he appears to be, he is an alien. He's been very detached for the last couple of days. Barely speaking to Turlough or me. It's too late for me to rethink my feelings for him though. There's no turning back."
"Entry 21"
"The Doctor finally snapped out of his depression. We just spent the last week with my Grandfather. Danger turned up there as well. The Malice. Once again we were victorious. The Doctor and grandfather talked for hours about history. The Doctor took me to dinner in a nearby village. Stockbridge. I asked the Doctor if he would ever stop running. He surprised me by saying he would one-day return to Gallifrey. And then he surprised me even further by asking me if I would be leaving now. He seemed so relieved when I told him no. Even more so when I referred to the TARDIS as home. The smile he gave me was.I don't know. It just said more than any words could have at that moment."
The TARDIS had materialized just outside Little Hodcombe Cemetery. The Doctor uncurled his hat and walked out into the cold toward Tegan's grave. He remembered the service and how Tegan's family had frowned upon him and Turlough. Tegan's grandfather had welcomed them though. Varney had honored him with his words.
"My grand daughter did not die because of you Doctor. She lived because of you."
He knelt down and touched the headstone, tears running down his cheek.
"My condolences Doctor"
The dark voice neither startled nor surprised him. The Master walked slowly toward the Doctor and knelt beside him.
"She was very special to you, I know."
"Then this should make you happy."
"Oh Doctor. Come now. This reminds me too much of another grave. All those centuries ago on Gallifrey. I am not without compassion Doctor. I was your friend then. And so in honor of that and in honor of Tegan I will be your friend now. Just long enough to tell you what you already probably know."
"The time streams."
"Are seriously disrupted Doctor yes. And I'll tell you this. Tegan wasn't supposed to die. Look."
The Master gestured toward the grave and the headstone seemed to dissolve away. And then so did the Master.
The Doctor re-entered the TARDIS and set the coordinates for Morocco. He knew he had to find out what was happening and soon. If the time stream was damaged, Peri would be far safer with him in the TARDIS. Could the Master have been right? Was Tegan supposed to live? Was her death a temporal disruption? Too many questions and no answers. His only link to her now was her journal. There had to be some kind of clue there.
"Entry 22"
"We just dropped off the Gravis on some little asteroid. TARDIS seems to really be acting odd since it was reassembled." The picture began to shake as the Doctor heard his own voice in the background.
"Tegan come to the console room, something's happening to the TARDIS."
The Doctor looked at the journal somewhat confused.
"I don't remember that. There was a problem but I never called her to the console room." He said but before much more thought could be given to it the next entry began.
"Entry 23"
"We've been trying to get back to Frontios for 3 months now. Hopefully Turlough is okay. We'll get back soon enough. He'll never even know we were gone so long. 2 days ago I almost died in a freezer. How stupid is that. I've fought too many madmen and monsters to die in a bloody freezer. A lot of good came out of it though. The Doctor and I played 20 questions to pass the time. I got a little too personal with him and he with me. But he really opened up to me. I know about Gallifrey and now I even know his real name. Can't pronounce it so I'll keep calling him Doctor. We were in the freezer quite a while and I almost died. I think it shook him up. A lot. After I recovered, we both let our emotions overwhelm us. And before we really knew what we were doing, we were in each other's arms. I just left his room. He is still asleep. This is what I've wanted for so long. What's that saying? Be careful what you wish for. Brave heart, Tegan."
The Doctor closed his eyes knowing that had never happened but longed desperately That it had. The journal started again.
"Entry 23"
"Cripes, I don't have a clue in hell what the actual date is, but I'll just continue as I have already in this journal. It's after Frontios. We just left Tranax Seven. I had those thoughts about him again. And when you read this, Tegan-girl, sometime in later life.you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. I still don't know why he took me there, but I'm not complaining. I loved it. It was beautiful.in that stained glass in the church window type way. And the sounds..Lord..it was incredible.
If he were just a man, if he were anything less than what he is, I might be able to make him love me someday. But he isn't. I think I've finally gotten that through my head. I've been thankful daily that my run over mouth hasn't just blurted it out to him. I think he would have dropped me off on Earth so quickly, my head would spin. Believe it or not, journal, I'm just glad to be here. With him. With Turlough. In the TARDIS. I might not like everywhere we end up, but if I'm with my friends, I can survive anything.
Oh, blast. He's calling. Apparently, he's found Frontios. I didn't know it was lost. Righto, better get a move on.he sounds manic again."
Again an entry 23 and again no memory of the events.
"Entry 23. There is no saved data for entry 23. Do you wish to record new data."
A flash of white and the Doctor was once again surrounded by candles in the Tardis of his future self.
"Pretty obvious now isn't it?" The older Doctor asked. "We are spread throughout alternate time. Our time stream has been fractured."
The younger Doctor sipped his tea and fidgeted with Tegan's Journal.
"Entry 22. Something happened to the TARDIS. But it didn't, it didn't happen that way."
"No it didn't. And in my time stream. Tegan didn't die. She left me in the warehouse not telling me she was pregnant with Angelina. I just met my daughter over a year ago. And I'm happy to say that my relationship with Tegan is wonderful. Its also apparent in my memories that Tegan left me in the warehouse, and later married having two children named Michael and Amy. I met her again some time after her husband's death and basically was willing to adopt her children and marry her. Until my regeneration caused that to be unfeasible and so now I'm Uncle Thete. And then of course Tegan didn't leave and I took her to a carnival to mend our friendship. And then she did leave and I passed her and her boyfriend in a convertible just last week."
"How do we fix this?" The younger Doctor asked.
"Isn't the answer obvious. It's Tegan. She wasn't supposed to die. And because she did, our timestream has been fractured."
"No it's not her death. Can't be. That's part of an alternative time stream. So something happened before that. In the journal when we were returning to Frontios, the TARDIS went through some kind of turbulence. I dismissed it at the time. The TARDIS itself had been fractured just prior to that."
A brilliant white light almost blinded them but unlike other times it was not a disturbance of their memories. A voice that seemed to be everywhere at once spoke to them. And as it did it took form and stood before them. The White Guardian.
"Doctor, the universe will unravel unless the fabric of time is restored. This is the task I require of you and your other selves. Bring me the Key to Time."