Chapter 16
Sara's mind was wandering as she brushed a dapple-gray mare. It was as much as she could do at seven months pregnant, but it was enough. She smiled when she felt her child kick inside.
She patted her stomach, whispering, "Easy there, wee one."
She heard crows begin to caw outside and the sound came closer.
"I guess they have a lot today say. He is here! He is here!" Sara looked at the mare's face. "Whoever he is."
The mare nuzzled her.
The crows flew into the stable and perched on the stall doors and into the rafters, cawing over and over, He is here!
"Who is here?" Sara asked.
"Hello," she heard a woman say behind her.
Sara turned. She smiled. "Hello, Doctor."
The woman smiled, but Sara could see it was strained. The Doctor walked up to the mare, stroking her face.
"Who is this?"
"Glory's Dance."
"She says that's not her name."
"What does she say it is?"
The Doctor smiled, but it was sad. "You couldn't pronounce it. She's fine with the nickname Gloria."
"Oh. Where's Tara?"
"She, uhm..." The Doctor trailed off, staring at the horse. "I don't know."
Sara noticed the crows had stopped cawing.
"What's wrong?"
The Doctor tried her fake smile again. "Nothing. I just needed... Air."
"Air?"
"Yes."
"No."
"What?"
"Honey," a man said as he came into the stable. He was looking at a letter in his hand. "Ketterman's is asking about breeding their mare with Goliath. His offer is..." He looked up, seeing The Doctor. "Oh. Hello." He held his hand out to her.
She shook his hand with very little energy. Sara was really worried now. The Doctor was always excited to meet new people, and she hadn't met Sara's second husband yet.
"This is Brian," Sara said.
"I know," The Doctor said.
He looked confused. "Have we met before?"
She shook her head slightly. "I meant, of course. I'm feeling a little off today."
"This is a friend from home," Sara lied. "I call her Doctor."
"Are you a Doctor?"
"Yes."
"Of?"
"Everything."
He laughed. "And quite the joker, I see."
"I am." There was no joy in the remark. Only quiet despair.
"Does the offer look good?" Sara asked Brian, changing the subject.
"Yeah. Same as last time."
"Let Ketterman know to bring the mare next week."
"I'll call him." Brian smiled at The Doctor. "Nice to meet you."
"You as well."
He left the stable, leaving the women alone.
"So, this is your first." The Doctor motioned at Sara's belly.
"Yes. But you knew that."
"Yes. I know... I know everything." Her face strained with the words and her eyes watered. She looked shaken suddenly. "Almost... Everything."
Sara sat the brush down on an overturned bucket and moved closer to The Doctor. She laid her hand on her shoulder.
"Something has happened, hasn't it?"
The Doctor didn't answer.
"Has one of those three you travel with been hurt or killed?"
She slowly shook her head.
"Is Tara, I mean the TARDIS, okay?"
"Yes," she whispered.
"I can't guess what's wrong. You have to tell me."
The Doctor looked in her eyes. The tears were coming.
"I have no home anymore. It's gone."
"Gone... What does that mean gone?"
"Destroyed. Gone. I'm alone. Just me and... The worst Time Lord alive. Just the two of us."
Sara stared at her, trying to wrap her mind around this information. "That planet, that Gallifried?"
"Gallifrey."
"Right. That's the one that's destroyed?"
"Yes."
"When you say destroyed, what do you mean?"
"The cities have been turned to ash. Every Gallifrian is dead."
"They can't regenerate?"
"No. They cannot regenerate." There was a bite in that response.
"Please don't get angry with me. I'm trying to understand."
"Yes. Of course." She sniffled and wiped tears away.
Sara caught her hands. "No. This can't be wiped away."
"No. No." The Doctor pulled away from Sara. "I have to go. I left them and promised to be right back."
"Doctor, let me help."
"I'm fine." She forced the smile again.
"You are not fine."
"I'm fine!"
"Doctor—"
The Doctor hurried out of the barn.
Sara sighed. A crow landed beside her, cawing.
"If you can sneak in, yes. Someone needs to keep an eye on her because Tara can't do it alone."
It flew away, following The Doctor. She turned back to the horse.
"Gloria, is it?" Sara shrugged. "I am fine with that." She picked up the brush and resumed brushing the horse.
To Be Continued...