Chapter 5

An Ace Idea

Disclaimer: I hope folks enjoy this update that I honestly wish I had thought up a long while back.

Two Months Later

Two months had passed since the night at Clara's and thankfully, ol' Theta hadn't had to spend time in the proverbial dog house after his little altercation with Minnie. But he did have to spend a little bit of time getting Ace to forgive him where as it hadn't taken much to get forgiveness from Sarah Jane. Mostly over the fact they were never actually together and she didn't feel it was her place to really even give him any grief over the whole affair. Plus, she didn't find it to be much of an issue to begin with as it had been this 'Minnie' individual who'd been the most forward while Theta had been drinking. Though despite all that, it was rapidly becoming clear to Ace as far as she was aware, that her favorite Professor needed to get out and be more active! Oh sure, he spent time with Mickey Smith fixing up the Tardis but that was as active as he got!

Well, and spending time with the Brigadier, herself, and some others when not sleeping or doing word puzzles. But she just didn't feel it was healthy for the centuries old man to do only those things and resolved to do something about it! Even managing to rope the others into the whole affair despite the fact they felt their favorite time traveling Alien was doing just fine in his recovery from the war he'd been through. At least until Ace managed to point out to the more military minded that even they knew that a man who'd been through as much as the Professor had been through could easily hide they were needing something extra in their lives. As surely even all the Professor did wasn't enough to fully keep his mind off things. Sure, he physically got tired as an old man would but that didn't mean his mind did.

And that on occasion made him a bit restless as well due to the fact his current body had essentially been born for battle. Causing the group, especially the more military minded, to realize Ace was right and to come up with a plan. "You want me to what!?" Asked the centuries old man, uncertain if he had heard the group right on the day they chose to put the plan into motion.

"Teach! You have so much knowledge and I think it would be wonderful to impart to those who are willing to learn." Sarah Jane told him.

"And we think it would help to put your mind a bit more at ease, old friend." Added the Brig.

Here, Theta looked a bit embarrassed and annoyed that something he thought he was hiding from them had been noticed. "You… You noticed that, did you?"

"Well… Yes, Professor! I mean, its not hard to miss! And its made us worried." Ace told him honestly.

"But still, teaching!? I'm not certain that's a wise choice!"

"Well, perhaps not anything related to the future but you are perhaps the most knowledgeable of us on ancient histories of cultures both here and on other planets, old boy." Said Ian.

Even if said knowledge was likely to put someone out of sorts but they could always cross that bridge later. That is, if their old friend was agreeable to the matter. Theta sighed at the hopeful looks on his friends' faces before speaking. "Say I were to agree to this, would I not need identification of some sort to help me with a job? Even with UNIT's aid I'm sure I would still need it. And what institution would willingly believe they have an Alien who wishes to teach ancient history!? For that matter, what institution would even be the best fit for an old man like myself!? As surely teaching young children would be a horrible idea!"

"University level students would be the most ideal I believe and UNIT would of course be willing to provide the identification necessary to help you with further securing the job, old friend." Alistair informed him.

"And if you're willing and as well as the Tardis, we could take the faculty of wherever you choose to teach to another time or planet in order to get them aboard." Sarah Jane added helpfully with a smile.

"Yeah! It'll be ace, Professor!"

Jo, who'd been mostly silent until that point, spoke up. "I could even be an assistant of sorts if needed."

Looking at the concerned and hopeful faces of his friends, Theta realized they weren't going to give this up thanks to how concerned they were for him. It made him feel touched if he was being honest with himself. "You lot aren't going to let this go, are you?"

He received answers in the negative, causing him to harrumph with a shake of the head that caused Ace to grin in amusement. "Oh, very well! But if this goes badly, I will firmly put the blame at your feet with a thorough warning to never suggest such a thing again!" Warned the old man seriously.

Cheers were heard from the small group as Ace spoke up. "Oh, this is going to be ace, Professor! You get to be a real Professor now!"

"Which means you'll never have any reason to call me anything other then that, eh young lady?"

"All part of the plan, Professor!"

Chuckles were had and Theta couldn't help but join in as well. "I… I thank you all for the concern shown to me. I had not meant to worry you lot."

"You would have done the same for any of us if it was needed, Theta." Sarah Jane told him with a smile.

Well… In his own way that is! Theta smiled at her and gave a nod to that.

Two weeks later saw Professor Theta Lungborrow begin his first class at the University of Cambridge after some excellent work on the part of UNIT and getting the faculty to go along with the whole after a short trip in the Tardis with Mickey, Sarah Jane, Ace, and Jo along for the ride. And in a short amount of time, his advanced Class of History Of Earth And Beyond became the most popular one the University would ever have. His class also helped to slowly provide the knowledge that Aliens truly did exist in the Universe as well.

Author's Notes: Hope folks enjoyed! And no, this isn't the end as I still have quite a few ideas in mind for this story.