CHAPTER SEVEN

REUNITED

The Doctor was surprised when informed his fine, and that of his companion, had been paid. He was reunited with Ace at the front desk where their valuables were returned to them. When the desk sergeant remarked about the unusual number of deodorant cans in Ace's backpack, she received a reproving look from the Doctor.

"Just trying to be prepared, Professor," she said as she was led out, inwardly glad only the Doctor knew they were actually cans of explosives.

Alex Grove was waiting in the lobby and would have allowed them to pass had the officer at the desk not told the Doctor he was there and pointed him out.

"My dear Alex," the Doctor said delightedly, "I can't thank you enough. I understand it was you who paid our fine."

Despite Jason's warning, the big man was thrown by the Time Lord's appearance. "Uh… yeah, I guess," he said at last. "You're the Doctor?"

"I am indeed. And this is my friend Ace."

"Yeah, thanks," Ace said gruffly. "Do you think we could get out of here?"

Alex came out of his daze and led the way to his car. "Jason said you'd changed, Doctor, but man, you've changed."

The Time Lord gave a brief smile. "Is Jason alright?" he asked concernedly. "When they didn't bring him up, I was afraid he may've been hurt."

"He was. He turned up at Frankie's back door last night all banged up with a concussion on top of it," Alex informed, going on to tell of the events of the previous evening as he drove back to the house. He asked why the Time Lord had returned after only two months and was puzzled by the lack of a response. Then, like Frankie, he was stunned when supplied with the answer.

"Jason, are you alright?" the Doctor asked as soon as he saw his battered friend.

"It'll take more than a bang on the head to stop me, Doctor. You know that," the Alterran replied quietly.

"From the look of you, I'd say you got more than a bang on the head," the Time Lord observed in a concerned tone, taking a seat beside him. "You're sure you're alright?"

Jason nodded and smiled briefly. "I'll be fine. Don't look so worried. A few hours in the sun and I'll be good as new."

"Just so long as you don't over do it. You're not as young as you used to be," the Doctor cautioned.

The Alterran gave him a sideways glance. "Look who's talking," he shot back before asking, "Were you able to shut down the beacon?"

"Yes." The Doctor pulled the tiny device from his pocket and handed it to his friend, seeing a dark look pass over his face. "You know how long it's been operating, I take it."

"Yes. The time frame is all wrong, isn't it?" Holding up the device, Jason said, "And this isn't Alterran."

"Nor is it Gallifreyan," the Doctor informed. "Yet it was aimed at Gallifrey. Specifically, it seems."

Drawing a deep breath, Jason gave voice to the suspicion they both shared. "We were brought here on purpose, weren't we?"

"It would appear so. Any ideas as to why?"

The Alterran opened his mouth, only to be interrupted by Frankie. "Before you two get into that," she said quickly, "I think we all could use some breakfast. How about it? Or am I the only one who's hungry?"

"Yes, please," Ace injected. "I'm famished!"

"I suppose I should eat something…" Jason muttered.

"Oh, you have changed!" Frankie blurted out, receiving a weak smile in reply. Ace volunteered to help and the two vanished into the kitchen.

After a momentary pause Alex asked the Doctor how he had known Juris was at the Freeland Center.

"I saw him taken by boat from the summit."

"Ah…I wondered how you knew to go there."

The Doctor and Jason exchanged a mystified look.

"I don't understand," the Time Lord said in bewilderment. "How I knew to go where?"

"To the Center."

"Alex, I haven't been to the Center yet."

Now it was the Security Chief's turn to be mystified. "They said you were there," he insisted. "Last night, not an hour after…after…"

"Juris," Jason injected helpfully.

"Yeah, Juris. Not an hour after Juris arrived."

"My dear Alex," the Time Lord said firmly, "I can assure you, it was not me."

"Which brings up another point," Jason said firmly. "If it wasn't you, then who was it?"

"Yes…and how did they know Juris was there?"

Jason held up the deactivated signaling device, his eyes meeting the Doctor's. "Just who, or what, are we dealing with here?" he asked in an almost frightened tone.

"I think this is the most ambitious project you've ever undertaken, Reed," Aylsworth said approvingly. "I don't remember you moving this fast on a acquisition before."

"I felt speed was of the essence this time," Reed replied firmly. "We don't want this one getting away, now do we?"

"No, no. That we don't," Aylsworth agreed, adding wistfully, "I did so want that first one."

"I know. And with the holding area still in place, we'll be able to house it immediately." Reed looked at his watch. "Time to get moving. With luck, we'll be in and out before they know what hit them."

Once breakfast was complete Dr. Albert announced she was going to the Center to check on Juris. She would make sure he was alright, as well as tell him his father was alive, well, and very worried about him.

"I've no idea how we're going to get him out," Frankie sighed. "I can't exactly let him go. That would arouse too much suspicion."

"You'll have to tell him to sit tight until we can come up with a feasible plan of action," Jason instructed.

"That might take some time," the Doctor injected.

The Alterran nodded. "Yes, it's not likely another religious sect will spring up and spirit him away, now is it?"

Alex snorted, "I hope not. We've barely got the Center put back together after that Guardian business."

Jason gave him a pained look and then lowered his eyes. That Guardian business had involved him, and despite the fact that he had been an unwilling participant in a grander scheme, he still felt partly responsible.

After an awkward silence, Frankie made for the door. "I'll call once I know something definite."

"Frankie," Jason called, "when you talk to him, tell him the straight truth."

"I wouldn't do anything else."

"No, what I mean is…is…" Looking over at the Doctor, he said almost helplessly, "What do I mean?"

"He's trying to tell you Juris is telepathic," the Doctor informed. "He'll know if you're not being forthright." A sudden thought struck him and he asked, "I say, Jason, he will do as he's told and wait, won't he?"

Jason gave a wry smile. "Juris is more like his mother than me, Doctor. To say he has the patience of Job would be an understatement."

The Time Lord chuckled. "No, he isn't like you."

More than a little intrigued, Dr. Albert made her good-byes and left.

"So what do we do in the meantime?" Ace wanted to know. "Sit around a wait for the phone to ring?"

"You could always finish the laundry," Alex suggested helpfully.

"In your dreams, mate!" the teenager spat. She turned on her heel and went out the back door heading for the beach.

The stunned look on Alex's face caused the Doctor and Jason to laugh out loud. "I told you she was a handful," the Alterran reminded.