Sarah Jane and Luke stayed at UNIT for a couple more days. Sarah Jane helped the Brigadier out around base. Luke managed to wiggle himself into a science lab and was greatly enjoying that. Sarah Jane was still a little nervous having him in UNIT, him being what he was, but the Brigadier promised no one would hurt him and Rose promised to keep an eye on him. No one else had to know he wasn't 100% human. But soon enough it was time they went home.

The Brigadier and Rose hugged them good-bye. "If you need anything, Sarah, you just call me. Anything at all," the Brigadier said.

"I'll come visit," Rose promised.

"Thank you," Sarah Jane said. Neither Sarah Jane nor Luke were surprised when they got home to see Maria and Clyde waiting for them.

"There you are," Clyde said as Sarah Jane got out of the car. "We were beginning to think UNIT kidnapped you. We were planning a full scale rescue mission."

Sarah Jane gave a weak smile. "Thanks for that, Clyde, but I'm in no mood to entertain right now."

Clyde opened his mouth to protest but Luke caught his eye and gave him a small shake of the head.

"Why don't you go and rest, Sarah Jane?" Maria suggested, "I'm sure you had a long weekend. Luke, we were just about to check out that new arcade down town, wanna come with us?"

Sarah Jane gave Maria a thankful half smile.

"Alright, I'll be home for dinner, Mum," Luke said, kissing Sarah Jane on the cheek.

"Love you," Sarah Jane told him.

Sarah Jane watched the kids go; then went up to the attic. She thought about calling out Mr. Smith, but she didn't feel like talking to him- she didn't want a case to work on now. Instead, she fell into the couch, feeling exhausted. She had always kept ahead of her age, always able to keep up with someone half as old as her. But suddenly, all at once, she felt like the 57-year-old she was. She felt all used up. Part of her knew it was just the shock of everything that just happened- finding out the Doctor was dead, seeing his body burned, accepting that he was never going to brighten her world again.

Part of her knew it was just grief and that she needed to fight through it. But part of her wanted to give in and sink into the despair. Give it all up and let the world take care of itself. Right now, that part was winning. She knew she never could, though, as much as she wanted to now. She knew she could never turn her back on Luke and Clyde and Maria. She knew they would never let her.

There was a soft knock on the door. Sarah Jane looked up. Alan was standing in the door.

"I came to see if you needed anything," he said.

"The past forty years back would be nice," Sarah Jane replied. Alan gave her a small smile and she returned it half-heartedly. He sat down in the chair across from her. She sighed, "I don't know what to do. It feels as if my whole world shifted."

"I know how you feel," Alan said, "A few years ago, my best mate got in a car crash. I didn't know what to do; I felt like everything was wrong in the world. I didn't think I'd ever cope with it."

"How did you?" asked Sarah Jane.

"Maria helped, and Chrissie…tried…unsuccessfully. Things got back to normal, slowly, life went on." He paused. "I still miss him, all the time. It's going to be tough; don't let anyone tell you it isn't. And it's going to hurt for a long time, but after a while the pain goes away."

"It's not just me, Alan," Sighed Sarah Jane. "I'm worried for the whole world, my son, your daughter…I do what I can from here, but let's be honest. I'm not going to be around forever. Sure there's UNIT, and Torchwood, but we can only do so much. What's going to happen when something happens to the Earth that we can't stop? There is no one to protect us now."

"We'll manage," Alan said.

"I hope so," said Sarah Jane. "I really hope so."

"Can I ask you something personal?" Alan asked, "This Doctor, were you in love with him?" Sarah Jane could tell Alan wasn't trying to pry. He was just trying to understand her better. She could tell he was genuinely wanting to help her.

"Oh, Alan," Sarah Jane said, a weak, sad smile on her face, "this is my life we're talking about; do you really think it could be anything that simple?"

Alan put his hand on her shoulder and pulled her into a one armed hug.

The days drummed by, turning into weeks. New Year's came and went. 2007 brought the beginning of a new term and the kids went back to school, too soon for Clyde, but not soon enough for Luke. Rose kept true to her promise and came for tea once or twice a week. Alan stepped up as well. He became more involved with alien watching, and would often come around with Maria after work just to chat. As much as Sarah Jane loved Luke, Clyde, and Maria, it was nice to have other adults to talk to, particularly Rose, who was able to exchange stories about the TARDIS with Sarah Jane.

"Did he ever bring you to New Earth?" Rose asked, one day over biscuits.

"No."

"Well, it's this planet, like, a billion years away from here, same size as the Earth, same air, same everything, only it's inhabited by cats."

"Cats?" Sarah Jane repeated in disbelief. "You're bluffing."

"I am not," Rose said, "Five foot tall cats in nun wibble."

"I'm sorry, I can't believe you. I just can't," Sarah Jane laughed.

"I'm not kidding," Rose said. "They ran this hospital that had a cure for, like, everything. But the Doctor discovered that they were using home grown humans as lab rats, and…" Before Rose finished the door opened. And the kids came bustling in. Rose had always been gone before they got home from school.

"Oops, sorry," Sarah Jane said.

"Why?" Rose asked.

Clyde answered her question when he came into the dining room. "Hey, you're that UNIT girl," he said, upon seeing Rose. "Do you get to take down alien baddies all the time?" He made the shape of an imaginary gun and shot at invisible aliens.

Rose laughed. "It's not quite like that," she said. "I best be off, though."

"I'll walk you to the door," Sarah Jane volunteered.

"See ya, Luke," said Rose.

"Bye."

At the door, Rose turned to Sarah Jane. "I never asked; how are you doing?"

"It's been hard," Sarah Jane admitted, "but it's getting easier. Seems like things are finally back to normal. How about you?"

"I'm coping," Rose said. "The Brig's been really helpful; he gave me level two clearance so I've been able to keep busy."

"That's good," Sarah Jane said. "Tell the Brig hi for me. I'll see you next week?"

"Yeah, but probably not until Friday. I have to run to Wales; I think I've found one of my friends in Cardiff, and I don't know if he knows yet."

"Well, take care until then," said Sarah Jane. The women hugged and Rose left.