Suddenly flash of inspiration, so here's the next chapter...
Disclaimer: Prolonged exposure to Doctor could result in the inability to keep track of time, headaches from complicated techno-babble, and loss of energy due to high frequency of running (latter-most has the exception of when traveling with the First Doctor, who hates running, climbing, and any sort of exertion).
Chapter 9
"Why does he always do something like that right when things get interesting?" said Jack, outwardly annoyed.
"Do what?" asked Sarah Jane.
"Leave us behind," said Jack.
"Ever think he just didn't want to see us get hurt?" said Sarah Jane.
"If he had that attitude, he would never have invited us along to travel with him the first place," said Jack.
"Well, he never invited me," Ian piped in. "As much as I want to make sure the Doctor is safe, wherever he is, I don't mind staying out of trouble myself."
"He didn't invite you?" asked Victoria. She was a little worried; I mean, the Doctor was getting on in years, especially from when she last saw him. Perhaps he wasn't as on top of things as he used to be? But no, Victoria wanted to keep her mind off of that, so she decided to engage Ian in conversation.
"Not exactly," said Ian. "Barbara and I forced our way into the TARDIS." He chuckled softly. "We thought he had kidnapped Susan and was keeping her locked up in the police box. I still don't know why he just didn't tell us he was her grandfather in the first place; he said it wasn't our business."
"Well," said Victoria. "He invited me. After my father died."
"I'm sorry," said Ian.
"It's all right," she said, gazing off into the distance. "He sleeps in my mind..."
"Pardon?" asked Ian.
She looked up at him. "Oh, nothing. Just something the Doctor said to me once."
"Oh."
"I don't know why everyone's so worried," said the Brigadier. "He's always running off like this. At least Romana had the sense to follow him."
"Romana does have a lot of sense," said Leela. "She is good for the Doctor. I have seen them together. She will help him."
"That's good to hear," said the Brigadier.
"But that does not mean I would not like to be beside him with a handful of janis thorns," she added. The Brigadier raised his brow in askance, but after all these years, he knew better than to comment.
-
The Doctor and Romana entered the TARDIS. As the Doctor suspected, the coordinates were already set. He pulled at levers and pushed some buttons, and the TARDIS started to dematerialize.
"Doctor," asked Romana. "Where are we going?"
"The coordinates will place us somewhere on the planet Dunibis in the Lycome Galaxy."
"But that's a practical wasteland," said Romana.
"I know," said the Doctor. "The perfect place for an ultimate battle, wouldn't you say?"
They landed on a rocky terrain. Gray, lifeless hills surrounded them. Mud splashed up their legs with each step. Wind blew their robes close to their bodies.
"Doctor..." began Romana, but she stopped suddenly.
On the hill above them stood the Black Guardian, holding Susan by his side. His eyes were cold and dark, staring down at his enemy. "Doctor," he said.
"Let her go," said the Doctor, forcefully.
"Not just yet," he answered, a cruel smile on his lips.
"Grandfather..." cried Susan.
"She's very pretty, isn't she?" said the Black Guardian. "And still quite young, considering your species' life range."
"Just let her go," the Doctor pleaded. Romana held on to his arm, acknowledging her support . "It's me you want."
"But you don't understand," said the Black Guardian. "You took away something that I desired greatly, and now I'll return the favor. Do you love her very much, Doctor?"
"Yes," whispered the Doctor, hardly audible. His voice had left him due to his panic. If something ever happened to Susan, too... No, he couldn't let himself think of it. He needed Susan to live; she was the only piece remaining of everything he had lost. She had saved him from a fate that would have otherwise left him broken and alone. He could never let anything happen to her again, not after all they had already lived through.
"It's a pity, then," said the Black Guardian. His grip tightened and Susan cried out from the pain.
"Susan!" shouted the Doctor helplessly.
And then something surprising happened. Susan slammed down her heel on the Black Guardian's foot and jabbed into his stomach. Her captor loosened his grip at the shock, and Susan ran without thinking to her grandfather and Romana. Once in reach, the Doctor grabbed her hand and the three ran straight to the TARDIS, where the Doctor immediately put up the shields. He ran around the control console, working fast.
"Doctor," said Romana, as he stepped around her. "What do we do now?"
"I have an idea," was all he said.
A/N: Well, I wonder what the Doctor has in store for the Black Guardian, hm? And anyone else glad that Susan has finally been able to put her feet to good use?