Another day, another book shoved into its spot.
Odette made a full recovery after the bridge collapse within three days, but spent the remaining time keeping herself busy in her home, since she couldn't come back to work, yet.
The bridge's collapse officially ruled as a support failure, a fault found when workers canvassed the bridge, discovering that the lug nuts that attached limbs together completely cracked and broken.
It's ruled that it was a ticking time bomb, that finally came to light when the crew filmed on the bridge that day, parking vehicles for scenes in spots around the bridge, one a lorry, putting down heavy filming equipment.
The placement's enough that it shattered the lug nuts, separating the limbs, causing a cascade event that resulted in the bridge bowing and collapsing under its own weight.
Due to the severity, the council ruled that the bridge's beyond saving, and they're demolishing it by the end of the month.
In it's place, they're planning a new bridge in its stead, this time, heavily controlled.
One of the inspectors pointed out that it could've been a lot worse, if the bridge was opened to the public as it normally was, and thankful that nobody suffered severe injuries or worse.
That said, it didn't stop Hammond and Theodore from fuming over the oversight. They'd often said their late father would've outright beat whoever let the fault slip.
He took his craft to his two hearts, Mr. Smith.
Hamon reappeared after his trip elsewhere and as livid as the two brothers, threatening to find the people who approved the project himself, and quelled by Odette.
Eventually, the incident faded from public memory, and life went on.
Storms for the rest of the week, with next week forecasted with low humidity. Spring has sprung in the area and people ready for their vacations, well, the fortunate people.
For Theodore and Lila, work isn't over, when they're not working in the library, adventuring, they are, come vacation, they'll have some time to themselves, but it's mostly adventuring until they're back in the library.
Lila's kept up with the gossips and news through Bill, the only normal connection she had in the library while her family's away.
It's nice hearing gossip that didn't involve a conspiracy or anything involving an alien or two that wanted them dead.
Normal gossip about who's dating who, breakups, the usuals.
Bill certainly wanted gossip from Lila, since the whole "saving worlds over" put a crimp in going out to lunches casually, and the only time Lila's able to have lunch with Bill's when they're working at the library or the rare occasion that Lila isn't running for her life and isn't dead tired.
Hard telling her what goes on when she's not working in the library, Bill's been Lila's friend since she emigrated to Britain some time ago. One of the few faces that didn't treat her with instant scorn, and one of the reasons Lila has a job in the library.
Sucks, honestly, but Lila didn't know how else to tell Bill that when she's not in the library, she's most likely facing Daleks, Cybermen, God knows what else.
Worse's when Lila gets injured time to time because of those adventures, Bill took it the wrong way once, asking if someone's beating Lila.
Admittedly, Lila didn't want to pull it, but she had no other choice, and used the psychic paper, convincing Bill that she'd taken up self-defense classes and getting bruised because of it.
Why Lila's taking self-defense class of all things?
Well, she used to practice kickboxing, but when a sentient machine kidnapped her and Theodore, plans went out of order, and this is her only way of getting practice.
Couldn't tell Bill the last bit, but she summed that she wanted to broaden her horizon, and keep herself safe, can't ever be too sure these days.
Bill bought the excuses and Lila hated herself for it.
Still sucks keeping her best friend out of the loop, but Lila didn't think Bill would've believed her if she told her.
Lila ended up asking Theodore about letting Bill know the truth, that way she didn't have to keep making excuses, lie, or use the psychic paper.
Theodore gave his thoughts, in all, it's better if Bill didn't know, she might not react the way Lila hoped. Even if she knew her longer than he did, Lila risked Bill turning against her in some way.
Lila protested that Bill wouldn't turn on her because she told the truth, but Theodore pointed out how Lila reacted when she found out what goes on that nobody sees, and she conceded that maybe Theodore had a point.
Theodore gave her a glimmer of hope, that down the line, if she truly believed that Bill wouldn't react negatively to the reveal, maybe Lila has a chance of coming clean with her.
Until then, it's mum.
Today's another day with rain outside, beads of water running down the smooth surface of the library windows, and if it wasn't a work day, Lila would've curled up into a ball under the sheets.
If not for the invention of coffee or the fear of Hammond, she wouldn't come in today.
Minding her business, filing paperwork in between checking in and out books for patrons, Lila hardly noticed the appearance of someone they hadn't seen in a while.
David.
Soon as the latest patron left with their stack of books, Lila greeted him, and he came by to tell her and Theodore that he's back in the game 100% starting, now.
"Oh, you're leaving the show?" Lila's surprised that David kept his word, leaving the show and turning it over to another person, meaning someone else helmed the show, and not only that, a whole new actor playing as the titular Doctor.
Nodding, David replied that he left the show well cared for, at least what the people told him.
Sharp as a tack, got an attitude, perfect for the role.
"Wait about the Ko'gan and the Samito?" Lila pointed out that the new show runner potentially didn't know aliens existed and wouldn't realize they're working with them.
David assured her, he thought of everything before he took on the role as both show runner and actor.
"They won't give the new show runner any problems, I promise you from the bottom of my two hearts," David swears that the new show runner taking over the show won't have to worry about the two species giving them problems.
Blinking, Lila asks who the new show runner was and David says that he doesn't know him, all he knew's he's a newcomer like David.
Herman Tully, his name was, someone above David suggested him, probably because they can save money on someone new than someone more seasoned, and probably because there's still some skepticism about the show despite the surge in popularity.
Some probably worried that with David leaving, the popularity it had would've crashed and make things complicated for the lot of them.
Can't tell, but David's sure the new show runner's just as good as him.
"How do you know?" Lila asks how David's sure that this Herman Tully would've did as good a job as David did before him and David responded that with someone new, they want to prove themselves.
Someone old, they don't have to prove anything. They've already proven their worth.
Lila mused that David's trusting for something that's his passion project and David insists that while he'll pop in every now again, but he had full confidence.
"What about Jenny?" Lila inquired that because David's becoming the Doctor full-time again, how he'll manage his relationship with Jenny.
Smiling, David said that while Jenny won't be his companion, per her father's request and Jenny's too busy with work for her to come along with him anyhow, they'll still be attached to the hip, as always.
He promised he'll come around frequently, making time for the holidays, etc etc.
"How about Mr. Pratchett, how's he doing?" Lila continued while she did small work as she talked to David, there's no one else needing help, and workload's slowing down for the moment since the rain's picking up again.
Nobody wanting to be out in the pouring rain and all that.
"He's good. He plays a mean cricket, though," David mused that Mr. Pratchett's in a better mood these days and grew fond of David, enough that he let David play cricket with him.
For a man his age, he still had it in him, and he kicked David's bum without skipping a beat.
Even Jenny wasn't a spring chicken, she kicked David's bum at it, too!
Lila then went on to ask what's the plan since he's back at it again as the Doctor in full capacity, to which David replied that he'll continue what he does best: run.
While he's not dealing with the usuals, he'll continue his obsession: discovering the truth behind his father's death, something he desperately wanted for closure.
He didn't want to leave the show, believe him, but his duties as the Doctor come first. Things becoming increasingly difficult for him to schedule episodes with the adventures as of late, he figured it's best he steps away, now, rather than disappoint his fans.
Maybe if he wasn't the Doctor, he would've stayed longer, but it wasn't so, yet he knew that his show will live on.
Whoever comes after him has shoes to fill, but he hoped them the best, it's not an easy task as the real deal, but at least they have a script to follow, meanwhile, David's thinking on his two feet.
"Hey man, if we hear anything, we'll holler," Lila tells David that if she and Theodore hear anything that's worth something to David, they'll pass it along.
David gleamed as he appreciated the gesture and said that if he finds anything useful for them, he'll pass along, too.
Lila thanked him for gesture and David checked the time, seeing that his hour's come again.
Sighing as he tugged on his long coat, David says he better head out, work's never over, and Lila saw him off as he asked her to tell Theodore what they talked.
Theodore's in a meeting with Hammond and a few head figures, punishment for a slight the other week, and Lila says she'll pass the word along when he gets out.
When.
Thanking her, David headed off, disappearing past those doors, returning to his nomadic life as the Doctor, where he begins his search for answers anew.
He vowed to find those answers and he will, even if it takes him over seven hundred years.
THE END