A/N: Not too many chapters left to this story. At the most there is only one or two and the second chapter will more than likely be an epilogue to the story. I am glad everyone has enjoyed this story so very much. Please R/R

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Chapter Twenty: The Fate of Ms. Lai

The leather interior of the hover car let out a slick sound as Martha literally peeled Ry'kla from her seat. Her normally curly hair had lost its curl either to sweat or just to sheer terror. Ry'kla said in a low muttering voice, "My poor heart….I am too old for this."

The Doctor's wild driving through the motorways of this planet had caused the old or rather young looking Mala'shra to be positively terrified. She shivered as she got out of the hover car and Martha felt herself shiver with her. The ride was absolutely terrifying. The Doctor had kept them inches away from oncoming traffic and she had troubles as well peeling herself off from the interior of the car.

The Doctor got out of the car, "That was fun…"

"For who?" Martha asked.

The Doctor grinned, "What didn't you think that was fun?"

He pulled out Ms. Lai who was muttering under her breath, "I should have never bought Charles that damn sports car."

The Doctor fished out his key to the TARDIS and unlocked the doors. Meanwhile Martha and Ry'kla unloaded the parts that the Doctor had taken from the Time Scoop. He opened the TARDIS and found Charles Wilden sitting in one of the seats. He got up and said, "About time you got here. I have been here for what I think was three days, maybe it was four. I don't know I lost track of time. I was going to get out to help you but I couldn't get out."

Ms. Lai glared at Charles, "You idiot….you had to help them."

"Still alive I see. I am glad, actually."

Meanwhile Ry'kla entered in the TARDIS and gasped, "It's bigger on the inside? It's as the stories say."

The Doctor chuckled, "It is bigger, isn't it?" The Doctor then helped Martha and Ry'kla bring in the parts.

Charles looked at Ry'kla and nodded briefly, he recognized her from Ms. Lai's collection; she had been one of her first exhibits that she had managed to get, as a very young woman. Ry'kla noticed shortly afterwards, but said nothing and held on to Martha, and waited to see what would happen.

Martha frowned, "Why Mr. Wilden, she tried to kill you. Why are you happy that she's still alive?"

Mr. Wilden sighed, "Because, besides all that, I am very much fond of her. I…well I love her."

The Doctor's eyes went wide, "Love that….she's insane."

Mr. Wilden shrugged, "They say love is insanity."

The Doctor grinned, "That's true…. "

He then went over to the TARDIS' computers and he pulled Ms. Lai with him. "Martha could I borrow your mobile for a second?"

"Sure, Doctor. What do you need it for?"

"You'll see…"

The Doctor took Martha's phone and suddenly snapped a digital photo of Ms. Lai with it. He then plugged the phone into the TARDIS computers and the Doctor smiled, "Let me see…age progression technology. Age back this photo to a six year old. There…." He grinned and he showed a picture of Ms. Lai at six years of age.

"Awww what a sweetie…."

"I don't get it Doctor, what are you planning to do?" Martha asked.

"I am going to search the TARDIS databases for missing people from the Victorian Era that's what I am doing and…." The TARDIS came up with a match. A black and white photo of a young missing girl, "There we go….don't believe me now Ms. Lai. That's you."

Ms. Lai glanced at the photo and shook her head, "That's not me."

"Sure it is and you're name isn't Lora either….."

The Doctor read the name from the internet site that he managed to find, "Rachelle Whitefield. Age five and a half. Missing from Cardiff on April 27, 1847. Presumed dead." The Doctor grinned, "Of course you fell through the rift."

Martha frowned, "What rift?"

"There's a rift running through time and space in Cardiff, Martha Jones. Maybe one of these days I'll explain it to you better."

"How old are you Ms. Lai?"

"I beg your pardon? It's rude to ask a woman her age," Ms. Lai said.

The Doctor grinned, "I am guessing late twenties maybe early thirties."

"I am twenty-seven years old, I have you know."

The Doctor grinned; he had managed to get her to divulge her age, "So…. Rachelle Whitefield. You're twenty-seven years old. You went missing in 1847 and so….how long is that…Martha Jones?"

"Why you asking me, Doctor?"

The Doctor looked a bit embarrassed, "I am not really good at well….you can ask me my twenty-seven times tables but…I am just horrible at simple figures."

Martha laughed, "That would be 1869, Since she was five years old when she went missing, technically she'd be twenty-seven in 1869. Doctor."

The Doctor grinned, "Martha Jones…..what would I do without you? 1869, Cardiff here we come."

Ms. Lai looked alarmed, "What?"

"Simple Ms. Lai or should I say Rachelle, I am dumping you off in 1869. That's where you originated from, that's where I am leaving you."

"But you can't." Ms. Lai said.

Martha looked alarmed as well, "Doctor, you can't. She would end up messing up the time frame if you did that."

The Doctor had already activated the TARDIS as it dematerialized and it went spinning through the Vortex. He said firmly, "Just watch me Martha Jones. She's going back where she came from. And I should warn you Rachelle Whitefield, mind yourself, I'd keep a low profile if I were you. You might end up being sectioned." The Doctor grinned lightly.

The TARDIS finally dematerialized, "Here we are…and OUT YOU GO…." He grabbed Ms. Lai and she began to sob, "I don't belong here….I don't. Don't leave me here…."

He undid her masking tape and the Doctor said firmly, "You do belong here Ms. Lai. You went missing in 1847 and you belong in 1869."

He opened the doors and Mr. Wilden said calmly, "Wait…"

The Doctor paused and Mr. Wilden said firmly, "You can't do this."

"I can too do this, and I am."

"I helped Martha Jones. Please Doctor…don't."

The Doctor sighed, "Mr. Wilden, what would happen if I let her stay in the year Seven Billion? Tell me if you can?"

Mr. Wilden sighed, "I…I don't know. She'd try and rebuild her menagerie, I suppose."

"Exactly, she's better off here in an age away from other species that she could put under thumb once again. So out she goes…" He threw Ms. Lai out of the TARDIS doors. Ms. Lai ended up outside on the hard cold ground.

"Doctor…" Mr. Wilden said, "If you won't reconsider, let me stay with her."

The Doctor sighed, "Are you sure? If I put you here, you'll live here and die here in the past. The nineteenth century is a hard cruel place, Mr. Wilden."

Mr. Wilden sighed, "I am sure, Doctor. Besides someone needs to keep an eye on her and I love her. I don't think she realizes how much, but…"

The Doctor grasped Mr. Wilden's hand and shook it, "You're a good man, Mr. Wilden. I don't know what you see in that woman but…." The Doctor grinned, "Good luck…"

Martha shook her head incredulously, "Mr. Wilden, you don't have to do this."

He sighed, "I think I do, Martha Jones. Besides, I'd be lost without Lora. She keeps my life orderly, in more ways than one. After all someone needs to keep her head level to the ground, so why not?"

He gave Martha Jones a hug and he said, "Good bye Doctor, I wish this could have ended more pleasantly."

"So do I." The Doctor said.

Mr. Wilden then turned to Ry'kla, "I apologize for your captivity, little one and I am sorry to have ever taken part of it. I am sorry, even if Lora isn't."

Ry'kla said softly, "Your apology is accepted. May the goddess Mala shine her grace on you."

Mr. Wilden nodded and then smiled, "Thank you…." He then walked out of the TARDIS.

The Doctor closed the doors of the TARDIS, "So….Ry'kla it's your turn. Are you ready to go home to your family?"

Ry'kla smiled, "Oh yes, Doctor I am…"

"Good….lets get you home then."