Since We're Here

by Lumendea

Chapter Two: Nap Time is For Wimps

Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who, nor do I get paid for writing this.

…..

Tegan couldn't help but stare at the small boy slumped against the Doctor's shoulder as they walked back to the TARDIS. She'd seen a lot of things traveling with the Doctor, but she'd never seen what he looked like carrying a child before. The small blond was asleep with an angelic smile on his face. Tegan smiled at the small child before looking at the back of the Doctor's head.

"So," Turlough asked as he raised an eyebrow at the child, "We're just supposed to watch this kid until your future self comes for him."

"Correct," the Doctor said simply as they walked up to the TARDIS.

The Doctor shifted Sammy in his arms so he could dig out his key and unlocked the TARDIS with a grace that was stunning given he had never had reason to do such a maneuver before. Tegan and Turlough glanced at each other as they entered the TARDIS. Sammy blinked, yawned and lifted his head to look around the TARDIS console room.

"Looks different," he observed sleepily before snuggling back into the Doctor's arms. "Not as fun." The boy was asleep a moment later.

Tegan chuckled and smiled at the sleeping child again. The Doctor said something under his breath and laughed softly.

"He sleeps a lot doesn't he, Doctor?"

"Young boys need rest, Tegan," the Doctor told her as he headed for the TARDIS bedrooms.

Turning back to Turlough, Tegan crossed her arms and sighed. She leaned back against the console controls, trying to adjust the sudden new oddity in the TARDIS.

"What do you think?" she asked her fellow companion as she gestured down the hall.

"Does it really matter?" Turlough asked, "I'm sure his parents will be here soon and then we can be off."

"His parents..." Tegan said thoughtfully. "I hadn't thought of that. I wonder who his mother is? Actually I wonder if he has a mother. I mean the Doctor is an alien"

"True," Turlough agreed, "But does it really matter?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Aren't you curious?" Tegan asked with smile on her face.

"Not that much Tegan," Turlough chuckled as he crossed his arms and leaned against the console. "I'm not that fascinated with the Doctor's love life."

"I'm glad," the Doctor's voice said from the hallway, drawing their attention. He stepped back into the console room, ignoring Tegan's blush and Turlough's smirk.

"The TARDIS made up a little room for Sammy," he informed them calmly, "He'll be fine while he rests."

"So now what?" Turlough asked, "Just sit around and wait?"

"I'd enjoy the peace and quiet while we can," the Doctor told his companion with a raised eyebrow. "Something tells me that he will be more of a handful when he is awake."

"So is he really your son?" Tegan asked, the curiosity overwhelming her.

The Doctor turned to Tegan and nodded. "Yes he is. I touched the older boy too and he is definitely my son as well. I do hope that my future self is recovering those two safely."

"What happened to them anyway?" Turlough asked the Doctor.

"Oh, they were dosed with alien gas. Just sends them wild and they need to contained. They aren't truly capable at their age of harming someone and Casimax is very peaceful so we needn't be too worried."

A loud crash caught their attention and the Doctor turned and rushed back into the hallway. Tegan dashed after him as Turlough sighed and shook his head before following them at a slower pace. The TARDIS' white halls echoed with another crash and then a sharp cry. Opening one of the doors, the Doctor sighed in relief as he found Sammy standing over a broken pot from Pompeii with a sorrowful look.

"Sorry," Sammy said sadly as he looked up at the Doctor.

Stepping around the shards, the Doctor picked up Sammy and moved the boy back onto the bed. He kept one gentle hand on the boy's knee while he reached for Sammy's small shoes. For a moment he marveled at the size of them in his hand.

"It's alright Sammy," the Doctor said gently as he handed the shoes to the small boy. "Put your shoes on before you stand up."

Tegan watched the exchange with interest as she took the wastebin from the corner and slowly put the broken shards into it. Turlough looked at the now wide awake boy and smiled in spite of himself.

"Now that you are awake, what would you like to do?" the Doctor questioned the four year old in front of him.

"Do have any toys?"

The Doctor paused at Sammy's question before standing back up and offering the small blond his hand.

"I'm not sure what all is in this old TARDIS," the Doctor said with a smile. "Let's have a look."

"TARDIS treasure hunt," Sammy said with a smile. "Never changes."

Chuckling, Tegan shook her head and grinned. "He's your son alright"

"Course," Sammy told her with a firm look which his soft brown eyes didn't really pull off. "My Daddy's the Doctor and I'm a Time Lord."

"Who is your mother?" Turlough asked to everyone's surprise.

"Telling you would change Daddy's past."

The Doctor chuckled at the serious look on the boy's face and said, "It is alright Sammy. I'm going to have to bury these memories anyway. Although it really isn't Turlough's concern."

"Oh," the child said softly, "Alright then."

As the Doctor lead Sammy out into the hall if search of something to entertain the child, Tegan turned to Turlough and smirked at him. Shrugging Turlough walked into the hall and headed for his room.

"Simple curiosity," Turlough called back to her.

Shaking her head, Tegan put the wastebasket back in the corner and walked to her own room. She just hoped the Doctor could handle that little blond angel for a few hours by himself.