Chapter 3
The Doctor walked into Sickbay to find Chris sitting on a diagnostic bed while Ace tended to his arm. The boy wore a basketball outfit. "Dad!"
The Doctor was as concerned as any father would be. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Then the boy winced as Ace ran an instrument over his wrist.
The Doctor reacted. "What happened?"
"It's broken… But we'll have it all taken care of in a minute."
She finished treating Chris's arm. He tentatively moved his arm, and grinned with relief.
"Now just take it easy on that arm for a while."
"How did you do this?"
Chris was shame-faced. "I was in the gym… shooting hoops… I swung off the hoop…"
The Doctor was appalled. "Swinging off a basketball hoop? You could have broken your neck!"
Chris was downcast. "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to…"
Ace gave the Doctor a look. "Can I talk to you a moment?"
"I'll be right back."
The Doctor allowed Ace to lead him aside. "Professor… did you do silly things like swinging off basketball hoops when you were his age?"
The Doctor thought, and sighed. "Alright… I was doing more dangerous things than that…" He looked over at Chris. "It's just that… For all practical purposes, it's been a long time since I was a father… my son almost kills himself…"
"He didn't almost kill himself… he just broke a wrist… like a lot of other boys who fall down."
The Doctor acknowledged his over-reaction. "You're right… But it's… difficult."
"Difficult for you? What about Chris? Can you imagine how he must feel? You've lost sixteen years, but Chris has lost a lot more… his mother… and now his father."
The Doctor reacted to that… then turned from Ace and approached Chris. "How's the arm?"
"It's fine. Dad, I'm really sorry… I know you've got more important things…"
"Nothing as important as this, son."
It was the first time he'd called Chris 'son', and the boy caught it. He was very pleased.
The Doctor and Chris walked down the corridor. The Doctor studied Chris for a beat. Then… "I know this must be… very hard for you."
The boy smiled. "It's okay, Dad."
The Doctor took a deep breath. "Okay's not good enough." The Doctor paused, looking for the words. "When I was your age… my own father… he wasn't there for me. And I needed him. I really… needed him. I always wondered what kind of father I'd be. I never felt quite ready. Maybe the idea even scared me a little."
"Scared… you?"
"Yeah. But I must have gotten over it, huh? You're here."
Chris laughed… The Doctor laughed along with him. His tone turned serious again. "It's just important to me… that I don't… let you down, Chris."
"You never have, Dad… you've always been there for me."
"I'll have to take your word for that… because I don't remember any of it… Not your first tooth, your first step… nothing… And I want to remember."
They shared a long look. Then Chris moved to him and hugged him… they held each other for a moment…
"Guess there's only one thing to do. We've got to make some new memories…"
They exchanged a happy look and continued walking.
"I don't know if it's still in the memory banks, but I used to have this great fishing spot I liked to go to…"
"Curtis Creek?"
"You know it?"
"Sure. We've gone to Curtis Creek lots of times."
"Want to go again?"
"You bet!"
"Then as soon as the negotiations are out of the way, we're going fishing."
"Great!"
The Doctor and Chris entered their quarters, all smiles. Chris was mid-story… "…Then Mum tried to net the fish, and she fell in the creek, too. And then you tried to pull us both out, and you fell in!"
"I'm almost glad I can't remember that!"
They both laughed. Then… "Mum really liked Curtis Creek. We went there for picnics and stuff lots of times."
"What was she like… your Mum?"
Chris's good humour faded quickly. "She was great… I think about her a lot…"
The Doctor sensed the boy's unspoken anguish… but didn't know what to say. An awkward moment… then Chris fingered his game outfit. "I better go change."
The Doctor watched him leave, then took a seat at his desk. Right now, this new world, and all it offered, was beginning to seem very real to him. Then he faced the desk console. "Computer. Display family record. The Doctor. Limit to visuals.
After a very short lag time, he saw home video-style images taken in the Doctor's quarters. The camera unsteadily roamed the room to settle on the Doctor working at his desk, seemingly unaware of what is happening.
Then a child slipped into shot, wearing a colourful costume, his face obscured by a mask. The disguised boy snuck up on the Doctor… then leapt at him. The Doctor started, registering mock fear. Chris took his mask off, revealing his smiling face. Then he pointed to the camera and as the Doctor 'reacted' to having been caught by his son's candid camera… they both laughed and hugged.
The Doctor watched with a smile… then he frowned. Where was his wife in this? "Computer. Display family record. Err…Doctor… Mrs?"
The screen went blank. "Please restate request."
What the hell? The Doctor quickly became frustrated… and then Chris returned, sleeving into a fresh shirt. "What's wrong, Dad?"
"The computer's still not acting right. I'm having trouble finding a visual record of your mother."
Chris frowned, upset. "But I know Mum's pictures are there. Did you give a date?"
As the Doctor shook his head, Chris faced the console. "Computer. Display family record. Doctor, Mrs. Home file. Fifth of August, 2416."
The console lit up and the boy smiled as… there was no delay this time. They saw more home videos of the Doctor's family in their quarters. Chris and the Doctor sat at a table as a beautiful young woman entered the scene. She carried a birthday cake, which she placed on the table. And as Chris blew out the candles and his parents applauded…
The Doctor stared at the images of his 'wife' – recognizing her. His face set… he knew… "Mel… Melanie?"
Chris didn't realize the game was over. "Mum was beautiful, wasn't she?"
"Yes…" He turned off the computer, gave Chris a long look.
The boy reacted with puzzlement. "Dad… what's wrong?"
A moment of strained silence… then…
"Ace to the Doctor."
"Doctor here."
"Doctor… please come to the Control Room."
The Doctor nodded, jaw set. The jig was up. "On my way."
A determined Doctor left… leaving a concerned Chris alone.
The Doctor entered the Control Room and approached Ace, who was working at the console. "What's the problem?"
"I've had to shut down the time engines, Doctor."
"Why?"
"The eye of harmony was fluctuating. Nothing to worry about though."
"Oh, come on! We're on the edge of Sontaran space with no ability to dematerialize, and you're not concerned?"
"I'll have the eye back on line in no time, Doctor."
The Doctor's anger built. He surveyed the Control Room… knowing this was all a sham… and he decided to kick it apart. He glared at Ace… "As fast as you tracked down that faulty processing accelerator?" he asked sarcastically.
"I'm running a Level One diagnostic…" she replied defensively.
"For thirty hours…? It's never taken you more than four. You're not capable of that kind of incompetence, Ace."
"But, Doctor…"
The Doctor moved around the console to confront Nita. He saw that she had a scar on her face. "Where did you get that scar?"
"In a fight, Doctor."
"What fight? When? Where? Why?"
Nita just stared at him. The Doctor charged on… back around to face Ace. "If we left immediately, when would we arrive at Outpost Twenty Three?"
Ace consulted her instruments. "Through normal spce, in three days, four hours…"
"How about through the time vortex?" To Ace's silence. "What's wrong, Ace? Forgotten how to calculate it?"
"Pardon me, Doctor… but I'm receiving subspace interference which is interfering with my instruments. I can't calculate as quickly as…"
"That's rubbish."
The Seventh Doctor, Tegan and Stike entered from the corridor and observed as…
"Doctor, I can explain-"
"-No you can't. Don't even try."
Seven stepped up to the console. "Doctor, this is no way to act in front of Ambassador…"
"Shut up!"
Seven stopped dead. Reactions all around.
"What did you say?"
"Shut up, as in close your mouth, and stop talking."
Seven was speechless. Tegan stepped into the breach. "Doc… I can see how upset you are. You're angry, impatient-"
"Back off, Tegan."
Seven and Tegan are at a loss. There was a great silence in the Control Room.
"Well… anyone else want to speak up. Or can we end this… charade?"
The entire Control Room disappeared. The Control Room, Seven, Tegan, and the companions all shimmered away to reveal a Sontaran Holodeck. A stunned Doctor was left alone with Stike.
The Sontaran stepped up to the Doctor. Grim… "As you wish, Doctor. The charade is over."