Okay...this is a bit awkward, but yes, I'm still around-hello! I know it's been months and I do feel guilty, but thanks for the interest still-to everyone that reviewed, put me on Author-Alert, put this on Story-Alert, and so briefly appeared in my mailbox. Well, first of all, how I was able to return-Spring Semester of college is over, has been for a little while, and some of my other work has slowed down a bit. I made progress with my own personal novel, maybe finish that up by fall-start thinking about its future-and so I had some free time. And...here we are!

Secondly, I do have 'plot bunnies' about this, but not as many as I like-in fact, while I was working on this chapter, I had one or two ideas for later that I never had back in...January. (Some of which may be inspired by Series 4 of 'Doctor Who' itself and the new Indiana Jones movie-though I may change the story description at least for 'The Doctor and the Professor'.) This is not a fully thought-out story, but I am relatively certain of its direction, I just have to get it there without leaving behind too many plot-holes and dissatisfaction for both sides. One thing I can say is that-we're going to be jumping around. Time, space, and everything in between-that is my intention and I shall try to fulfill your expectations, (as little as they may be right about now) but that may take awhile. However, I will...try to update sooner with the next one.

Chapter 2: To Reconvening

"Hello, I'm Doctor Marcus Brody."

"I know, he just…mentioned that."

"Oh, he did? Sorry, I must not have-ah, and you're Ms. Kitredge, I see. So nice to meet you. I'm just visiting, by the way, but this is a splendid little college. You must enjoy working here."

Ms. Kitredge cleared her throat, adjusting her nameplate. "It's well enough, really, not so renowned yet a comfortable establishment. The pay is good and I am better off than some…what about you, Dr. Brody? Do you work?"

Marcus sighed, a fond look in his eyes. "Yes, indeed, I do work-I'm the head curator at the National Museum. If you have never seen it, you really ought to, the artifacts on display are really some of the greatest treasures known to man…arrowheads, armor, doubloons, weapons, pottery, jewelry-anything you can imagine. No matter how big or how small, we collect it all if it has worth as a part of history."

The librarian nodded. "Sounds like you certainly enjoy your work."

"Naturally, what else could be better? Though if I were a young man again, I suppose I would actually go out there, on the archaeological digs, and help recover all that has been lost. Still, I'm sure you know how important cataloguing is, make no mistake about that, and at the museum-"

"Hello!" A voice suddenly called, far louder than a whisper.

The pair turned about as Ms. Kitredge frowned and hissed, "Excuse me, sir, but we were just talking and there is no need for you to shout like that. Do you need anything?"

The British fellow, who had been walking over to them with a smile, now winced and lowered his voice. "Sorry about that-been awhile since I've been in a library, I forgot about the silence part. Um, Ms. Kitredge, it's just that I was wondering…do you happen to have any book called Harry Potter?"

"Harry Potter?" The librarian shook her head. "Odd title…I wouldn't know off the top of my head, what sort-"

"May not even be called that," The fellow scratched the back of his head, glancing askance toward the shelves. "I could just be thinking of the author. Could you-could you just take a look at the card catalogue for me, please? I don't think I would be able to handle searching for it on my own, might wind up…pulling out the whole drawer and spilling all of the cards, that would be a right mess to sort out."

Ms. Kitredge sighed. "All right, I'll go take a look, it'll only be a minute-please excuse me, Dr. Brody, duty calls."

Marcus slowly nodded as the librarian stepped out from behind her desk and murmured, "Of course, madam, I don't mind-see you soon!"

Professor Jones browsed through the few books that Barnett College had on pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, checking to make sure that they were accurate enough for Marcus to borrow-the National Museum had received a new grant and was considering investing it in the archeological sites of that region. He grimaced over the information in one particular book-whoever wrote this was an absolute fraud, sticking to the more outdated mode of thought on his subject, the sort of ideas touted about in the 19th century…he checked the author's name and groaned, recognizing it well. He'd seen this fellow around at meetings of the Archaeological Institute of America, a man who was actually considered an expert and even taught at Harvard…Indiana shook his head before returning this book back to the shelf. He did not need to get involved in some dispute over trifling details, even if they might lead someone else to think-maybe it wasn't right, but someone else might notice that and actually confront…he grabbed the book again and shoved it under his armpit; he would save it for himself.

Indiana Jones had done a lot in his life, all for the cause of archeology-well, except in a few instances when the price was right and he was too desperate to refuse, but otherwise he remembered the integrity that should be inherent with his discipline and tried to follow it. Sometimes that proved difficult, especially when ethics was not a subject to debate with the worshippers of Kali and especially the Nazis, but in such instances he had acted as best as he could to recover the artifacts and deliver them to the proper authorities or at least leave them undisturbed. Though he usually did not gain recognition from his professional community, at least others had been satisfied by his work and even saved as a result of it, with the exception of the few that had gotten in his way…and those that had been harmed or disturbed even when they had only wanted to help.

Professor Jones had heard a shout, coming from the front of the library, but he ignored it and continued with his perusal; then after awhile, there was the sound of footsteps coming towards the back here and, now less occupied, he peeked out from the 900s section. "Ms. Kitredge, what's going on?"

The librarian, glancing over at him, paused and sighed. "Hello, Professor. It's just this fellow, British, he came in here before you and Dr. Brody-he's certainly not a student, but I allowed him to look around here. I probably shouldn't have, but…well, now he wants me to look up 'Harry Potter', either by a title or an author. So now I'm heading for the library catalogue-do you want to take a look at anything as well?"

Indiana frowned…earlier today, when he had gone to the train station to pick up Marcus, for a moment he had thought they were being watched; the train had come in on time, arriving at the station with grey clouds gathering overhead to promise snow. He was wearing a good jacket, snug enough for a climb up the mountains of Nepal, but he still shivered as he stood off to the side with the others waiting to welcome the passengers; these people staggered out of the train, loaded down by so much baggage and covered in thick layers, before waddling over to this hospitable crowd. Professor Jones had raised his head, looking around for Dr. Brody with some anxiety about whether or not the old curator had got on the right train, when he spotted a pair of heavyset fellows lingering at the back of the new arrivals, moving slowly and deliberately enough like hunters. However, while thinking that he might try following them instead, he was distracted by the appearance of Marcus-so he waved his hand until the other noticed him as well and then, talking about old times, they had left the station without checking up on those brutes or making sure that they weren't shadowed.

The old Indiana Jones would never have done a thing like that…the professor told Ms. Kitredge, "Don't bother looking. All I want to see is what sort of fellow is alone with my friend right now."

As Ms. Kitredge walked off toward the row of card catalogs at the back of the library, the Doctor watched her go and shook his head. "I'm going to regret that, but so-hello, Dr. Brody!"

The Time Lord turned around, grinning at the man now politely nodding. "Hello to you as well, though I suppose you have the advantage of me."

"Ah, right, well…" the Doctor hesitated, staring at the old man. "I probably should have thought this through before I came over, might be a bit of a shock…listen, are you healthy? Heart ticking well enough and all?"

Marcus frowned. "What are you-yes, I'm perfectly well, I don't smoke or drink as much as I used to and I take good long walks. I'm just as healthy as any man half my age, so what does that have to do with anything?"

"Good, that's good, brilliant in fact," the Time Lord sighed with some relief. "I just don't want you to-to drop dead right in front of me! Anyway, the thing is that…I do know you, Dr. Marcus Brody. We met once, awhile ago, and I want to talk to you about that-"

"Oh! Really?" Dr. Brody lifted his head, a confused look in his eyes. "I'm sorry, I don't…I know I should, you have a distinct appearance, but I don't remember…"

"No, not like this," The Doctor waved his hand. "I didn't look like this before, that's the thing, though you may recall…John Smith?"

"Uh…that is a very common name…"

"All right, then how about…the Doctor?"

Marcus was frozen for a moment, then he muttered, "No…it can't be, you can't-you can't be him, it just…it's impossible."

The Doctor grimaced. "No, it's not, it's really me-the Time Lord…"

However, the man didn't want to hear it-Brody turned and quickly strode out of there, not exactly running when he wasn't really strong enough for that, but going off at a fast pace to escape; the Doctor watched him go, slightly bewildered as he wondered what he should do. He didn't have much experience with handling encounters between himself and former companions, considering how much he traveled and the numerous people that had gone with him; though usually, whenever he met them again, they weren't exactly dismayed-after some initial shock-they were happy to see him again. However, this sort of alarm…Dr. Marcus Brody was older than most of his former companions had been and it was sort of apparent that the man might already be in the first stages of dementia; in any other instance, the Doctor would have left him alone then so as not to disturb him any further, but this was different-he needed to talk to him.

"I should have sought him out sooner…" the Time Lord shook his head and walked after the old man; he would follow and try to talk to him, not run him down in pursuit like he might have done with others.

"Damn it-something is wrong here," Indiana Jones grumbled, looking around without any sign of Marcus or a 'British' fellow here in the library.

Ms. Kitredge grimaced. "Don't swear like that and what could be wrong? I don't know why they would leave, but-"

"Marcus wouldn't leave, not when he was only waiting for me to get him these books, unless someone…"

Professor Jones groaned and left his stack of books on the library desk, though the lousy one still remained wedged in his armpit, before he took off without another word to the librarian-yet running down the collegiate halls, passing by the startled faces of students and faculty, he almost felt like he was falling back into his old ways. The sort of habits that were hard to shake no matter how hard you tried, even if you had given them up for the sake of age and to honor thy father…he slowed down, however, when he got near the main doors; a man was just picking himself up from the floor, shaking his head in a daze like he had just been knocked down. The fellow was tall, just as tall as him, but also too thin, though the layer of clothes with trench-coat and a suit in a blatant shade of blue did add some mass to his form; yet overall, especially with his messy brown hair, he didn't look too intimidating.

The stranger turned towards the main doors, staring at them for a moment, then spun around as Indiana approached to exclaim, "They took him! They-they just took him!"

He caught the British accent-he surged forward and slammed the stranger against the wall, holding him with one arm. "Who are you? Did you have anything to do with this?"

The stranger gasped at the impact, but then his expression changed from shock to annoyance "I'm the Doctor and of course I didn't have anything to do with this! Why would I-look, we don't have time for this, they're getting away!"

Indiana Jones clutched at the Doctor's suit jacket, not even thinking about the odd name as he dragged the fellow toward the doors, pushing them open in time to see a LaSalle driving out of the parking lot into the softly falling snow-though increasing in density. He noticed their direction and then ran down to his car, a Plymouth roadster parked near the front, with Doctor in tow-he opened the passenger door, pushed the fellow inside, and then slammed it shut before going around to the driver's side, taking out his key and cranking the engine; it would take a minute in this damn weather.

"What? What are you-what's the matter with you!" the Doctor waved his hands in exasperation. "You've practically kidnapped me and now what are we going to do-chase after them? It's impossible in this weather, the roads-"

The engine roared to life as the former professor shouted, "That's exactly what we're going to do, Doctor! Whoever they are, I'm not going to let them take my friend-and I'm only bringing you along because you've got some explaining to do when this is over!"

The wheels screeched as the Plymouth roadster reversed and then turned before it accelerated out of the parking lot and down the drive of Barnett College.

So here we are-sorry about the little cliff-hanger to the car chase, but we'll get back to that! I may try to figure out some of the schematics...I'm not familiar with snow and ice, but I at least know it will make for a bit of a slippery ride. Again, please review and alert me, it will have an effect!