Kate had always considered herself to be an intelligent woman. She had always worked hard and put everything she had into her work. Now as she was faced with the fact she was not only in the TARDIS with the Doctor and Clara but she was going to step out into a time before she was born. A time when her parents hadn't even started to date yet she was there to make sure that they both lived.
"Are you ok?" Clara asked as she watched the older woman. Kate shook her head.
"I'm supposed to be getting the shopping in. Gordon and his fiancé are coming for Sunday lunch. I have a meeting with the Defence Committee and the Prime Minister this morning. I don't have time for this." She took a deep breath as her voice wavered. Clara nodded.
"You'll be back for Sunday lunch." She reassured her. "You will get to go to your meetings."
"Yes, you will." The Doctor announced, his grey hair falling all over the place. "If we can stop the Assassins getting to the Brigadier."
"You said he isn't that yet." Kate turned as he opened the doors to the TARDIS and stepping through. Clara ushered Kate after her.
"He isn't. Not yet." The Doctor pulled his sonic sunglasses from his jacket pocket. "He's currently serving in the Scots Guards. "Why would the Scots need guarding? I don't understand it but there you are. Army life is something I never wanted to understand. Come on, what are you waiting for?" He walked on ahead as Kate forced herself to put one foot in front of the other. She knew the Doctor was not one to explain things but she had a feeling she would be running into the Valaryan Assessins sooner rather than later. She kept quiet, aware that dressed as she was she was standing out like a sore thumb in the 1970s.
"Doctor, where are we?"
"I told you. July 1970."
"No I asked you WHERE not WHEN." She watched him turn to face her.
"Oh, currently we are in a field in the Scottish Highlands. Its about twenty past three." He stated before marching away. Clara rolled her eyes. "Come on. We don't have all day."
"NO." Kate snapped, her temper finally getting the better of her. "Clara may follow you without question but I will not. Now tell me exactly what I am here to do and I may well do it." She glared at him. The Doctor sighed heavily as he realised she was on the verge of tears.
"Oh Kate. Don't. Please don't do that thing with your eyes. Like Clara does. Please."
"What thing?" Clara asked.
"Where they get all wet and look glassy." He waved a hand.
"Crying Doctor. Its called crying. Can't you see Kate is upset." She huffed as she crossed to where Kate was glaring at him. "You're right we should have told you more but honestly, mostly he has no idea what is going on. He just goes on instinct. Usually works out ok."
Kate huffed. "He was in the Scots Guard then. Before he was recruited to lead UNIT. He told me once, that this was where he first saw Mum."
"Yes."
"He also told me you are both an idiot and a genius. I had no idea what he meant back then. Now I do." She smirked as he looked offended for a moment.
"Kate, your father. Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart was a fine man. I was lucky to call him my friend. I wont tell you he was an easy man to get on with but he was a good man. He loved you and your mother."
"Yet they divorced."
"Everything ends Kate. Marriages, relationships, planets. Everything does, eventually. Don't blame him for that."
"I don't." She sighed. "I did as a child but not now."
"First thing we have to do is find him." Clara paused. "We know he is in Scotland in this period of history but Scotland is quite a big place."
"It is certainly beautiful." Kate sighed as she looked around just as the Doctor rugby tackled her to the floor. "Great." She gasped. "I'm guessing we are on Army land and they are in the middle of exercise? Great."
"RUN!" The Doctor yelled as they barrelled back into the TARDIS. A gun shot reverberated around the TARDIS as she slammed her own doors shut in temper. The mid console sprang to life as the ancient machine whirred to life before the Doctor could reach it. "Thank you Old Girl." He whispered as he felt the TARDIS evaporate. Kate gasped as she realised she was bleeding. Clara was at her side in seconds.
"You're ok. You are ok." Clara stated as she helped her take her coat off. The Doctor froze for a moment as he saw the blood.
"Its my arm. Its fine, just a graze." Kate felt sick as she looked up to see a young man who looked remarkably like her own son stare back at her.
"Miss? Are you sure?"
"I?"
"Sorry." The Doctor marched over to them. "But who are you?"
"Private Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart." The dark haired young man stated. Clara's eyes widened as she realised who had followed them into the TARDIS. The Doctor's jaw dropped open for a moment before he did his best to recover. It was Clara calling Kate's name that caught their attention as the blode seemed to pass out in front of them.