A/N: Okay. For some reason I really think this chapter could be a bit better. But it does its job and it moves the plot along. Please R/R

Chapter Thirteen: Home Again?

Tash gave the Doctor a bit of a glare but she couldn't before she let out a tremendous sneeze. Her teeth were chattering "Tha…tha…nks…a…lot…Doc…tor….you…gave me…a cold. Stupid…hum…man…alli…ment."

The Doctor sighed he was relieved that was all that Tash had. Considering that she could have died, became part of the TARDIS, or become brain damaged. A cold was the least of his worries. Sarah Jane had Tash all bundled up in blankets, and a cup of hot tea was in her hand.

"Consider it part of experience, Tash. The common cold has been plaguing humanity for thousands of years."

Tash glared at him as she took a sip of the hot tea. She then said, "Maybe I ought to sneeze right in your face, Doctor. And you can experience it yourself."

Sarah snickered lightly, "Oy you should hear the Doctor whine when he gets sick. He's such a baby."

"I am not."

"You are too, Doctor."

Tash sneezed once again. "What in Mala's name did you do to me? I feel like you dipped me in freezing water."

"We did," The Doctor said.

"I am…freezing cold…"

Sarah Jane sighed and wrapped another blanket around her.

The Doctor looked at Tash, "Tash, do you remember anything when you passed out?"

Tash shook her head negatively. The Doctor said firmly, "Try and concentrate…think. You were with Sarah, helping her make tea and then it happened…."

Tash closed her eyes, "I felt pain. I felt the pain and emptiness. It was quiet. And that was all."

The Doctor gave Tash a light pat on her back, "Good girl. I don't expect you to remember much out of all that, but it's good to know you're mind wasn't a complete blank."

Tash sneezed, "What happened?"

"I had to connect you to the TARDIS, to figure out a message, Tash."

Tash's eyes went wide, partially filled with fear and anger, "You did what? You hooked me up to your machine, as if I was part of it. You treated me as if I was a machine and not a living person, to figure out a message in my mind, what kind of…" Tash began to have a sneezing fit.

The Doctor cringed, "I am sorry Tash."

"You didn't even ask me for my permission, you just did it." Her blue eyes looked intently and angrily at the Doctor, "I have had enough of your hospitality, Doctor. Take me home."

The Doctor grinned lightly, "Very well, Tash."

Sarah Jane frowned, "Doctor, what are you up to this time?"

"Nothing, Sarah. Tash asked to be taken home and I am going to take her home. Why do you assume I am up to something?"

"Because, you have got that look in your eyes, I don't know what it means, but it generally means something."

The Doctor smiled, "Sarah, I promised you a trip, for old time's sake. And Tash, I'll take you home."

He worked the console with his own special type of magic, causing the TARDIS to dematerialize away from Earth and back to Tash's time. Finally the ship dematerialized on Tash's planet. "You want off, Tash. You're home. Want to take a look around, Sarah?"

Sarah knew the Doctor was up to something. "Doctor, you still haven't told Tash about what this message is about and you haven't really told me either."

The Doctor said calmly and quietly to her, "Sarah, going home to Tash's planet is where the message originated. So who am I to argue with what Tash wants?" He grinned lightly.

Sarah sighed and shook her head, after all this time the Doctor hadn't changed one bit, he still could end up getting what he wanted without making much fuss about it. "So I assume we will find out more about this message on her planet." The Doctor nodded, "Yep."

He opened the door, "This should be Tash's holy city, the holy city of the Mala'shraian people."

He looked around, they were in the middle of the city but it was quiet. "Oy not again. This is the second time I have come to this city and it's quiet as a tomb."

Tash peaked out of the TARDIS. "This isn't right, there should be people here. My children. The market is open. All the goods sold here are still around." Tash picked up a fruit from a nearby vender's market and bit into it casually. Its juice ran down her chin. "It's as if they all just disappeared."

"That's exactly what has happened and I do not know where they are."

The Doctor turned to see the white haired Mala standing before them. "What do you mean they just disappeared?"

Mala sighed, "Disappeared Doctor. One moment they were living their lives and the next, they were gone. They just vanished into thin air. I had no choice but to call to Tash and to you Doctor."

The Doctor nodded, "Sounds like a transmat. But who would want to steal the people of Mala'shi and why?"

Sarah Jane looked thoughtful, "Doctor, what exactly do the Mala'shraians do?"

"Nothing much. They are pretty much a peaceful lot, who pretty much spend their time gardening. They are well known for their genetic manipulation of animal and plant life." The Doctor suddenly grinned as an idea came on him, "Why Sarah Jane, you're brilliant. The people of Mala'shi, there science and mental manipulation of plant and animal life is amazing. I have seen Tash grow flowers and plants with her mind. It's one of those little tricks and skills all her people have, isn't that right, Tash?"

Tash nodded blandly, she seemed empty. In fact she looked quite pale. Maybe it was the cold she had; perhaps it was shock that her children were stolen from her. The fruit she had taken a bite out of came out of her hand and rolled into the dirt. And then the tears flowed.

"Tash, I will find you're children. Make no mistake of it. I'll find all 879 of them and 2,000 or so of your grandchildren and bring them home."

Tash let out an ear piercing cry and she rent her clothing. The Doctor cringed but watched as Tash mourned. Sarah Jane placed an arm around Tash. "I have worked too hard to bring my people back from the dust and now they are gone."

Sarah pressed Tash against her, "There, there. Let it out if it helps you feel better. But the Doctor isn't going to let you lose all that you've worked hard for. Believe me. I have seen him work wonders."

Tash sighed, "We don't even know where they are at?"

The Doctor grinned, "Ahh….but you're forgetting I have the TARDIS. Now mind you, I can't interfere in established events, but no one said I can't track down a transmat signal that happened hours before hand. If I can pinpoint the signal when it happens, I can find out where your children were stolen, Tash. How about it?"

Tash wiped the tears from her eyes, "You'd do that for me, even after I yelled at you about what you did."

"Of course…and you're right I should have asked you Tash, but if I hadn't we wouldn't have found out what was going on here."

He turned to Mala, "Now when exactly did this happen?"

The planet sighed, "Four days ago. It happened late in the afternoon."

The Doctor grinned and then said, "Come Sarah, Tash. Back into the TARDIS, let's chase down some kidnappers."