CHAPTER 14

"ONE EMERGENCY AT A TIME."

"Frankie, that's Alex Grove!" Jason gasped. "And he looks in pretty bad shape, too."

Frankie's heart missed a beat. "Who's that with him?"

"I don't know. I've never seen him before," Jason replied, not realizing the total inaccuracy of this statement as he began moving steadily closer.

"I think you'd better stay out of sight for the time being," Frankie suggested. "I'll untie them and you keep watch."

"Okay." The Alterran started to submerge stopping when Frankie's grip suddenly tightened. "What's wrong?"

"Chris, that's the Doctor! He's the one I told you about. The one who said he knew all about you."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. There can't be two people in the world who dress like that."

"Life's full of little surprises," Jason remarked sardonically as they submerged once again.

Unaware of the fact that a rescue was forthcoming, the Doctor was trying to come up with a plan of escape. He was sure the ropes at his wrists would stretch enough for him to pull his hands free as soon as they got wet. He could then use his pocketknife to cut himself free and then the injured Alex, whose condition was deteriorating rapidly. It was an excellent plan in which he could see only one flaw. By the time the ropes securing his hands got wet enough to pull on he would already have drowned, as his hands had been tied above his head.

Frankie suddenly broke the surface of the water only a few yards in front of the monolith and was greeted by one very overjoyed Time Lord. "My dear Dr. Albert! You've no idea how delighted I am to see you alive and well."

Frankie was caught by an incoming wave and carried to his side. She had to catch hold of his coat to keep from being carried away by another wave. "It's a very long story, Doctor," she replied. "And you won't believe—" Her eyes grew wide as she looked over at the battered Alex, seeing him hanging limp and motionless in his bonds. "Alex!"

"He's alive," the Doctor informed quickly. "But he won't be for long if he doesn't get medical attention."

The water was rising far too quickly for Frankie to start searching for the Doctor's knife, so he told her the quickest way he knew for her to get him loose, which was to pull the blocks away on the other side of the wall.

Dr. Albert swam around to do just that and was met by Jason on the other side. While she climbed up to reach the blocks securing the Doctor's hands, he took care of the ones underwater. Once freed, the Time Lord supported the semi-conscious Alex as his rescuer worked her way along the backside of the monolith. Her fingers were just wrapping around the first block when a shot rang out. Having seen the gunman on the cliff above, Jason yanked Frankie clear just as a bullet exploded against the wall's flinty surface. She landed in the water with a loud splash a split second later.

"Dr. Albert, are you alright?" the Doctor called anxiously.

"Someone's shooting at us!" she called back, swimming around the monolith to get out of the line of fire.

The Doctor was about to start searching for his knife when Alex unexpectedly dropped into his arms, Jason having snapped the bindings on the other side. The water was almost shoulder height by this time and the Doctor was having difficulty maneuvering. "We've got to get out of here before they come down after us," he said desperately. "We'll be sitting ducks—"

The Doctor broke off as Jason slowly rose out of the water in front of him. A broad smile spread across his face. "You certainly took your time getting here," he said in mild reproof. "We're in rather desperate need of medical assistance."

Frankie was baffled. "Doctor, what are you—" Another shot rang out and she grabbed hold of the equally baffled Alterran. "Get us out of here!" she ordered.

Jason obediently did as he was told. Taking hold of them all he quickly submerged, choosing to leave explanations to Dr. Albert. She, however, was too busy watching the Doctor's reactions, or lack thereof. Instead of being shocked, he didn't even bat an eye when he was abruptly pulled underwater by a creature that looked like a cross between a jellyfish and a nest of snakes.

Oblivious to Frankie's amazement, the Doctor was busy with Alex, who was cradled in the Alterran's tendrils. The Time Lord did what he could to stop the bleeding from the bullet wound, the pain from the pressure of his hand reviving the injured man.

Alex groaned and opened his swollen eyes as best he could. "Frankie…" he breathed in disbelief. "You're…you're alive…" His breathing was very labored and had a distressing raspy sound to it. It was obvious he was in a great deal of pain and Frankie quickly put a finger to his lips, telling him not to talk.

"Jason, the TARDIS is only about a mile from here," the Doctor informed urgently. "We'd best take him there."

"Doctor, you really do know him, don't you." Dr. Albert said in disbelief.

"What?" The Time Lord looked up, slightly irritated that it should be an issue at a time like this. "Of course I know him! If you don't believe me, just ask him. He can tell you."

"No, I can't," his companion responded regretfully.

"Jason, this is no time for games!"

Frankie quickly intervened. "It's no game, Doctor. He has amnesia."

"What?" the Doctor gasped. "How extensive?"

"About as extensive as you can get," the dejected Alterran replied.

The Doctor stared at him a moment. This was definitely a spoke in his wheels. Suddenly his mind was racing. He needed time to think, but there wasn't a second to lose. "One emergency at a time," he said at last. "First we get Alex to the TARDIS, then we get you sorted out."

"Alright," Jason agreed. "Which way to this…TARDIS of yours?"

The voice was undeniably the voice of his companion, but the tone and inflection were that of a stranger. The Doctor got his bearings and indicated the direction. Within minutes they were walking out of the surf near where the TARDIS stood concealed in the trees.

Still in his true form, Jason carried the now unconscious Alex out of the water, following after the amazing man who seemed to be the only person totally unfazed by him. Was it possible he really did know who, and what, he was?

"What good is a little thing like that?" Dr. Albert demanded as the Doctor unlocked the door to the battered police box.

"Haven't you learned yet that looks can be deceiving?" the Time Lord asked brightly. "Now, come on."

Jason hesitated, suddenly overcome by a wave of terror. "I can't. I can't go in there."

"This isn't the time," the Doctor snapped impatiently. "A man's life is at stake!" Taking the injured man from the reluctant Alterran, he promptly vanished into the TARDIS.

"Frankie, I can't go in there," Jason repeated, returning to his human form without thinking. He took a fearful step back and looked around apprehensively. "I don't know why, but I'm… I'm…afraid."

"We'll go in together," Frankie said firmly, taking his trembling hand into her own. Before the young man could object she pulled him in behind her, stopping the instant they crossed the threshold in the console room. "This is impossible!"

The Doctor was on the far side of the room gently lowering Alex onto the bed he had dozed on the night before. He then stripped off his saturated coat and scarf, dumping them in a wet heap on the floor.

"How is he?" Dr. Albert asked concernedly when the Time Lord looked up.

"He's in shock," came the worried reply. "And I think one of his lungs has collapsed. I've done what I can to stop the bleeding, but what he really needs is surgeon."

"Yo…you mean me…don't you?" Jason said meekly from his place near the door.

"Yes, I mean you."

"But I can't remember!"

Frankie was torn between protecting the vexed young man and keeping Alex alive at all costs. "You must remember something!" she exclaimed. "You bandaged my wrists like an expert."

"Frankie, there's a world of difference between wrapping a bandage and removing a bullet," the youth objected.

"Please, you must try."

Slowly and fearfully, Jason crossed the room and stood over the unconscious man. He looked down at the battered and bloodied form, only to turn away in anguish. "I can't! I just can't," he cried out helplessly. "I don't remember. Heaven help me, I just don't remember!" He pressed his fists to his head and staggered away, leaning against the wall in despair.

The Doctor was thinking hard, wondering why his companion would turn up completely well yet with total amnesia. Everything he'd read about the Draconian Flu stated that it caused a brief period of disorientation and listlessness. Any memory loss would be limited to the times when fever caused delirium. Delirium? Could the boy be suffering from a case of hysterical amnesia? After all, on the day he disappeared, he had choked the Time Lord into unconsciousness. If his fevered brain had registered this as murder, it could very well have caused his memory block.

Looking over to his overwhelmed companion, the Doctor drew a deep breath. He knew of one way that might remove the block, but it was very dangerous—for him. Yet if he didn't try, Alex would die. Squaring his shoulders, the Time Lord's face darkened. "Alright, don't do anything," he snarled suddenly. "You just stand there feeling sorry for yourself while Alex bleeds to death. I'm sure he'll understand."

Jason spun around and stared at him with his mouth open, struck dumb by the sudden harshness of his tone. It was Frankie who responded. "Doctor, that's not fair!"

"I don't have to be fair with him!" the Time Lord roared. He crossed to the console and hit the door lever, closing the exterior doors. He then turned to the bewildered youth, his face apparently clouded with rage. "So, you don't remember, eh? Do you want to know about yourself? Alright, I'll tell you. You're my property. Nothing more than a purchased servant, and a proper waste of good money you turned out to be, too. Stupid, useless boy!" He punctuated his insult by striking the aghast Alterran, sending him reeling against the wall. "I don't know why I let them talk me into buying you," he went on savagely. "Stupid, worthless creature!"

"I am not!" Jason objected.

The Doctor pushed him back against the wall. "Silence! You have no say here. You do as I command, creature!" He made certain to keep the Alterran cornered, pushing him back against the wall whenever he made to move away.

"Stop, please," Jason wailed, finally cowering back. "Leave me alone."

Dr. Albert could stand it no longer and grabbed the Doctor's arm, only to be roughly pushed aside. Although he did not mean to, the Doctor used the same force he had been using on the considerably stronger Alterran, sending Frankie's petite form careening into the control console. She went down to the floor where she sat sobbing from the pain the fall had caused in her stiff and bruised body.

While this made the Doctor feel terrible, it induced the reaction he was striving for in Jason. It made him angry. The instant the boy looked at him the Doctor knew he was in trouble and braced himself. Even in human form, the Alterran's strength was many times his own.

"You leave her alone!" the enraged Alterran snarled. He sprang at the Doctor, throwing him across the console room.

The Time Lord was sent spinning into the far wall, slamming into it with such force he was momentarily stunned. He barely had the chance to steady himself when Jason was upon him again, throwing him savagely to the floor.

Frankie watched the incredible turn of events in awe. It wasn't until Jason took the dazed Time Lord by the throat that she realized how serious the situation had become. "No! Chris, stop! He's not worth it!"

The Doctor had hoped the angry confrontation similar to the one that had triggered the amnesia might remove the mental block, but as the Alterran's powerful hands bore down on his throat, it seemed as if he had only succeeded in getting himself choked into unconsciousness again. If not killed this time.