CHAPTER 1

THE DOCTOR DROPS IN

A chilling wind was blowing and storm clouds were moving in from sea where great sheets of lightning could be seen far off in the distance. The wind lashed through the trees sending colorful leaves cascading to the ground where they were whipped and swirled by the mounting fury. Near by, a majestic manor house stood in front of a wooded area that sloped sharply at one point before continuing on toward the beach where the waves were crashing violently in evidence of the coming storm.

Some caves near the beach were already accumulating large piles of leaves at their entrances. Out of one such cave emerged a pretty, petite oriental girl, who looked no more than eighteen. She pulled her sweater tighter around herself and called back into the cave. "Jason, why couldn't you've gone herb hunting yesterday when it was warm?"

"I'll have you know I'm collecting moss," Jason corrected as he came out to join her. He was slight in build with a tangle of black curls on his head. He looked no more than eighteen himself, his sapphire blue eyes sparkling with life and sagacity. By trade, he was a Healer, which among his people was a great deal more than just a physician. By choice, he was also an herbalist and adept chemist.

Jason slung his backpack onto one shoulder and looked over to the ocean. He was rather enjoying the feel of a good strong wind in his face, violent weather of this kind being a rarity on Tel-Shye. His companion, however, did not share in his feelings, and he grinned impishly down at her as she rewrapped herself in her sweater. "What's the matter, Kyska?" he teased. "Afraid you might melt?"

Kyska gave him a sour look. "I'd rather get wet than freeze to death inside those damp old caves."

Jason laughed and set off in the direction of the house. "You didn't have to come, y'know. You could've gone to Krystos with Father."

"Uncle Aaron wants me to see you stay out of trouble while he's away," she teased back.

Her cousin feigned anger and threw a handful of leaves in her general direction. Kyska squealed and ran as Jason playfully gave chase.

At the top of the slope just behind the manor house, a wheezing and groaning sound rose in volume in competition with the howling wind as the TARDIS materialized. A moment later, the Doctor popped his head out the door, his blue eyes sparkling with child-like curiosity as he took in his surroundings.

"I wonder where we are now?" he muttered before remembering he had left his companion, Sarah Jane Smith, back on Earth. But then…he was supposed to be back on Earth as well, not wherever he was now. No matter, the Doctor reminded himself, he'd be back before anyone missed him.

The Doctor stepped blithely out the door. He could hear the rumble of thunder from time to time, his long scarf flapping and twisting in the wind as he wandered aimlessly along. He noticed the magnificent structure not far away and decided he might as well find out where he was and headed towards it, the leaves crunching noisily beneath his feet. He heard an odd creaking sound amid the crunching and made the mistake of stopping. The ground suddenly vanished from beneath his feet and the Doctor found himself at the bottom of a dry well. The boards through which he had just fallen joined him at the bottom of the hole, knocking him unconscious in the process.

"Jason, come take a look at this!"

Kyska was at the bottom of the slope staring up at the bizarre blue box that had not been there when she and Jason went to the cave several hours before. She had to call again to be heard and pointed up the hillside when her cousin looked questioningly up at her.

"Where the devil did that come from?" he muttered, going over to join her. "Someone's idea of a joke?" he wondered aloud. Kyska shrugged and together they scrambled up the hillside to the deserted Police Box.

The two circled the TARDIS, scrutinizing it from all angles. Jason ran a hand along one side. "It's vibrating," he observed.

"It's also locked," Kyska said as she tried the door.

Jason pushed on one side. "Well, whatever it is, it's not going anywhere. This thing's a ton weight." There was a loud crack of thunder and he called to Kyska just as she disappeared around the opposite side of the TARDIS, "I think we'd better get going. That storm'll be moving inland any time now."

Jason was already making his way through the trees when Kyska reappeared. She saw him stop and scowl at the ground. Suddenly he dropped his backpack and went dashing over to a hole, getting down on all fours and leaning in.

"Jason, what in the world are you doing?" Kyska asked as she came over to him.

He looked worriedly up at her. "I think someone's fallen down the old well."

"Oh, no!" his cousin gasped, looking down the dark hole.

The young man went over to his backpack, pulling out the lantern he had used in the caves and tying it to a rope attached to the side of the well. He slowly lowered it down, looking up sharply a few seconds later. "There's someone down there! Kyska, get my bag and some help!" he ordered as he started to climb down. "And hurry!" he added, quite unnecessarily, his cousin thought as she sped back toward the house.

Dropping down from the rope, Jason found the motionless form partially buried beneath a pile of the broken boards and carefully pulled them off. A low moan filtered up through the dust that was music to his ears. Thank goodness, he thought, at least this stranger is alive. He finished digging out the Time Lord and then knelt down to examine him.

The Doctor moaned and stirred, turning painfully over onto his back.

"It's alright. Just lie still," Jason soothed gently, putting a hand on the Time Lord's shoulder to keep him quiet. A clap of thunder sounded overhead and he looked uneasily up at the gathering gloom, adding nervously, "Help is on the way."

"What happened?" the Doctor asked weakly, a hand going to his throbbing head.

"You fell down a well," the Healer informed in the same gentle voice. "You've also taken a nasty crack on the head, so, please, lie still."

The Doctor decided this was excellent advice, especially since he was feeling too weak to move anyway. The more frequent claps of thunder did nothing to ease the pounding in his head, and the dim light coupled with his blurred vision made it impossible to make out the face that went with the soothing voice that spoke to him.

"My name's Jason," the voice said. "What's yours?"

"Most people call me the Doctor," the Time Lord replied faintly. From above he heard another voice. Female this time.

"Jason…?"

"Just relax, Doctor," the youth said relievedly. "Help's arrived." Rising to his feet, he called up to his cousin that the Doctor was alive, but would be unable to climb out of the well on his own.

Kyska sent down Jason's medical bag, telling him that more help would be arriving momentarily.

"Good…very good," Jason called back. He knelt down again, discovering his patient was just barely conscious. Inwardly, he wished he did not have to move this injured man until he was more stable. Unfortunately, the coming storm was threatening to be quite severe and would invariably fill the old well with water.

The Doctor was only dimly aware of being removed from the well. His head spun whenever he tried to move, and he floated in and out of consciousness. He heard the sound of the now driving rain on window glass and felt the warmth of a house envelope him as he was brought inside and gently placed on an examining table. There were several voices he could not identify, conferring, chatting and then leaving. Suddenly there was the soothing voice of Jason speaking to him again, but he could not quite find the strength to respond and finally blacked out completely.

"He's out again," Jason said without surprise as he stripped off his drenched jacket.

His equally drenched cousin stood uneasily near the door. "He's not going to die, is he?" she asked sheepishly.

"Good lord, no!" Jason cried in mild reproof. "He's got some cuts and bruises and a very nasty bump on the head. That's all."

Kyska smiled weakly, realizing that Jason would never be so casual if he had a dying man on his hands.

"He's not going anywhere for a while, though," the Healer said practically. "Would you ask Constanza to have a room made up for him, please?"

"Certainly."

Kyska started to go, stopping when her cousin called, "Oh! And he'll need some dry clothes, too." Looking down at himself, Jason laughed. "And so will I."

Kyska giggled and nodded before hurrying off.

After she had gone, Jason looked at his unconscious patient. "So…?" he said thoughtfully. "What brings you all the way out here in the middle of nowhere, Time Lord?"