Author's Notes: I do not own Doctor Who. Still. Again, trying with my London geography. Trying. Thanks for the reads and reviews and follows. Hope you like this chapter and let me know what you think of it, if you want. Happy reading!

As far as Jack Smith was concerned, his dad was the greatest dad in the world, whole universe maybe. He was great at everything, could mend just about anything, he knew languages and how to drive a car.

Sport. His dad was good at lots of things. Every year they won the son and father relay at his school. That was because his dad was a real runner. He did the marathon every year and Jack looked forward to it. His dad always took him to the expo and this year had taken him in the car to show him the whole route. Jack tried saying he could run it, but his dad said he couldn't and perhaps when he was older.

They had the same supper every year. Pasta. Then Dad went to bed early while Mum helped them make signs.

"I don't want to make one," said Jack.

Donna frowned. "Well, you don't have to. I thought you would, though."

"I don't want to get it wrong," said Jack. "Dad will be embarrassed."

"Come here, sweetheart," said Donna, holding her arms out. She took him in a tight hug. "You could not embarrass your dad. He loves you."

"They think I'm stupid at school," he said.

"Now, stop that. You are brilliant. You just have trouble with letters, okay? You just have to work a bit harder, that's all."

Jack nodded.

"Would you like me to help you get the words right on your sign?," asked Donna.

He nodded again.

"Okay," said Donna, handing him a marker. "Let's sit and think about what you want it to say."

Early the next afternoon, they were standing at the Mall, waiting for John to come by. They had checked in at all the best spots along the route and stopped for a quick lunch. Donna actually thought it was a rather fun outing even though it was a major hassle to take four children around London on public transport for the better part of a day. They all adored their father and she was happy to let them indulge in it for a day. After all, he was really too perfect. Someone had to keep him in check.

"Where's Daddy? Did we miss him?," asked Zoe.

"No, sweetheart," said Donna, squeezing her hand. "He must still be running."

"You mean Daddy didn't win?," asked Jamie.

"No, my love," Donna said with a smile. She looked over at Jack and Charlotte. "Still got the posters?"

"Yes, Mum," Charlotte said with a groan. "How much longer?"

"You behave yourself, young lady. I won't have you turning into a teenager yet. Your dad trains very hard for this and we should cher him on, just the way he cheers you on."

"It's cold," she complained.

"Donna!"

"Gramps!," shouted Jamie. He and Zoe ran towards Geoffrey and Wilf as they approached. The twins walked back to the rest of the family.

"Mum didn't come with you?," asked Donna.

"Oh, you know her, didn't want to bother with public transport," said Geoff, kissing Donna on the cheek.

"I tried telling her it's impossible to get around today otherwise," said Wilf. "Where did you last see him?"

"Back at the Docklands," said Donna. "He was doing really well."

"I thought he was going to win," said Zoe, looking dejected. Donna shared a smile with her dad and grandfather over it.

"It's not like that," said Jack. "You have to be like an Olympian or something to win."

"Oh," said Zoe.

"It's just a really long way, that's why it's important," said Jack. He looked back into the wave of runners. "There he is!"

They started shouting and jumping up and down as they saw John. He waved at them, looking exhausted. They kept up the noise as he went through the finishers' chute.

A few minutes later, they managed to find him in the meeting area at Horse Guards' Parade. Donna could hardly keep track of Jack, Jamie and Zoe as they ran towards him for hugs. She was next, then they cajoled Charlotte into one.

"You smell awful," said Charlotte.

"Yes, I am well aware," said John, taking another drink of water.

"You didn't win," said Jamie.

John shrugged and grinned. "Yeah, but it was close, wasn't it?"

"Congratulations, John," said Geoff.

"Well done," said Wilf.

"Can I see your medal?," asked Jack.

"Of course you can," said John. He took it from around his neck and handed it to Jack.

"That's so cool," said Jack. He proudly showed it to Wilf and Geoff who made a suitable fuss over it.

"Okay," said Donna, "let's get some pictures so we can get Daddy home."

Earlier in the week, Jack had made a request to interview his dad after the marathon for a report for school. Once he had showered and eaten about half the refrigerator and the little ones had gone to bed, John settled into the chair in the sitting room. He was feeling quite flattered that he had managed to impress his son like this. He watched bemused as Jack came over with a pencil and a pad of paper, trying to look very serious.

"Are you ready, Dad?"

"Yeah. Go ahead. Ask away."

Jack sat cross-legged on the floor. "When were you born?"

"Oh, that's easy. Twenty-third of March, nineteen seventy."

"That's really long ago," said Jack.

"I know. I'm ancient, really," he said smiling.

"What were your parents' names?"

"Sydney and Verity."

"What did you like to do when you were young?"

John sighed and tried to think. "I don't know. Cricket, probably."

Jack frowned. "Okay. Where did you go to school?"

"Gallifrey," said John, not even thinking.

"Where is that? In Ireland?"

"Yeah, must be." He looked down to see Jack stymied. "Well, go on."

"What did you want to be when you grew up?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know?"

Donna entered with a plate and handed it to John. "Here. That's for you."

"Ooh, pears," he said, eagerly taking it.

Donna sat down. "How's it going?"

"Lousy," muttered Jack.

"What?," asked John. "I thought we were getting along fine."

"You don't know anything!," Jack complained. "It's an interview about you and you're not saying anything!"

"I..."

"Jack," Donna said, taking John's hand in hers, "your dad had an accident before he ever met me. He was injured and he doesn't always remember everything from when he was younger."

"Right," said John.

"I need a good mark on this, though. I'm failing English."

"You're not going to fail, remember?," asked Donna. "We all spoke together and you're going to get extra help."

"I'm going to be left behind," he grumbled. "Everyone thinks I'm stupid!"

"You're not stupid," said John. "You're very clever. You just need help with reading and writing, that's all."

"Just like I said last night," said Donna.

John nodded. "Now, come on, let's finish."

"I don't want to."

"No, come on, Jack."

"No!," Jack shouted as he stood, tossing aside the pad and paper. "I hate it! I hate school! I hate you!"

"Jack! Don't you dare!," said Donna.

Jack stomped up the stairs. Donna stood as John tugged her hand. "Just give him a moment."

"He can't say he hates you."

"He's frustrated and I can't blame him. The school's not been much help to him. Let him be angry for a minute."

John tried to give him some time to settle down. He persuaded Donna to give him twenty minutes to cool down, then he would go and speak with him. He headed upstairs and made the walk to Jack's room.

"Jack?," he asked, knocking on the door. "Jack?"

He took a breath and opened the door. The first thing he noticed was that the window was open, rain shooting in and getting the rug wet.

"Jack?"

He walked over to the bed noticing a few key things were missing: Jack's knapsack, his skateboard. He then saw a letter on the bed.

"Donna!," John shouted.

Donna ran in. "What? What is it?"

"He's run away."

"Oh, my God," said Donna.

"You phone the police. I'll go look for him. How far could he have gone?"

Donna picked up his football money box and shook it. "Empty."

"How much did he have in there?"

"I don't know, a hundred pounds?"

John was incredulous. "How did he get a hundred pounds?"

She scowled. "John! Go find him!"

John ran downstairs and got in the Land Rover. He drove the streets at a snail's pace, desperate not to miss a boy walking to alone on the streets.

Rose Tyler was trying to get on the train home from her sixth job in six months. One stint as a waitress was so short she didn't even really remember getting sacked. She had settled into her latest gig at Gap on the Chiswick High Street. A little far away, but she had time to think on the commute. She needed that because she was starting to realize she didn't know what to do with the rest of her life. She had just gotten into the tube station when she noticed a little boy standing alone.

It was almost midnight. What was he doing out here? She looked around to see no one taking notice of him. Rose walked over to the boy and he was staring hopelessly at a map. Suddenly, he burst into tears.

"Hey," said Rose approaching, "what's wrong? Has something happened to you?"

"I don't know where I am," he said, sobbing.

"That's alright," said Rose. She pointed at the "You are here" dot on the map. "Right there."

He shook his head. "I can't read it. All the words are jumbled."

"Okay," said Rose. "Well, this is Stamford Brook station. Where do you want to go? Where's home?"

"I don't want to go home. I'm running away!," he said emphatically.

Rose nodded. "Well, I'm Rose. What's your name?"

"Jack," he said, wiping his nose on the sleeve of his jacket.

"Jack. I had a really great friend named Jack."

"I'm named after my cousin."

"Well, Jack, why don't we sit over there and decide where you're going?"

"I'm not going home," he said.

"I know. I just want to make sure you get to the right place."

Rose took Jack over to the bench and sat with him.

"So, where do you want to go? Anywhere in the whole world, where are you going?," she asked.

"Disneyland Paris."

"Wow," said Rose. "Good spot to run away to."

"I went to Disney World for Easter break, I would go there, but I only have a hundred pounds."

"You've thought this through, then?"

"Yeah. I'm going to take a train there."

Rose shook her head. "I've never been."

"Do you want to come with me?," asked Jack.

Rose smiled. "Oh, you have no idea what happened the last time I agreed to travel with someone."

"What?"

"Oh, you know, just travelling. Then it all ended one day." She paused and looked back at Jack. "What happened? Did you have a row with your mum and dad?"

"I hate school," he said.

"What's wrong with school?"

"I'm stupid. I get all my letters mixed up."

"So, you're running away so you don't have to go to school? That's your plan?"

"Yes," he said defensively.

"I think you must be pretty clever if you've got a hundred pounds and a plan to go to Disneyland Paris. Have you got your passport?"

"Yes."

"Can I tell you something, Jack?"

He nodded.

"I ran away once. It seemed like life was so boring, like I had to get out. So, I ran off with this... friend. I didn't tell my mum even. I just went."

"For how long?"

"A year," said Rose.

"A year? Was she cross?"

"You have no idea. My mum can get pretty cross when she wants to."

Jack snorted. "I bet my mum can get crosser than your mum."

"You still love her, though? I bet she's worried sick about you."

Jack was silent.

"Do you want to borrow my phone and talk to her?"

He shook his head.

"I think you'd miss her if you left forever. And your dad. Do you have a dad?"

"Yeah."

"I only met my dad once. I wish I could have known him better."

"Two sisters. And a brother. And Greta."

"Who's Greta?"

"She's our dog."

"Well, she must be missing you by now."

"Yeah."

"Why don't I help you get home? Where do you live?"

"Lionel Road."

"That's just on the other side of Gunnersbury Park, isn't it?"

Jack nodded.

"Well, come on," said Rose, standing up. She held out her hand for Jack and he took it.

The rain was really starting to come down when Rose heard some tires squealing. She looked round to see a Land Rover pulling up, half parking on the sidewalk. She looked down at Jack.

"That's my dad," he said.

Rose looked back in surprise to see the Doctor heading right for them. He fell on his knees and took Jack into his arms.

"My God, Jack! What on Earth were you thinking? Don't you ever do something like that again!"

"I'm okay. Rose helped me," said Jack.

He looked up at Rose. "I can't thank you enough."

Rose was stunned. The Doctor stood up and started patting his pockets.

"I usually have a business card with me. I'm John Smith, Director of the Global Children's Trust. If you ever need anything just, ring my office."

"Doctor," she said.

"No, just mister," he said with a frown.

"No, you're the Doctor. What are you doing?'

John squinted and looked at Rose. His eyes widened in recognition. "Oh, come on! You're that mad waitress!"

"Mad waitress?," she asked.

He shook his head. "I don't know what you're playing at, but stay away from my family."

"Your family?"

"Dad, she helped me," Jack protested.

"Come on, Jack. Get in the car. I am not a doctor!"

"The Doctor!," Rose corrected.

"What? That's just daft," he said loading Jack in the back of the car.

"Doctor, wait!," shouted Rose.

She stood helplessly as he got in the Land Rover and drove off.

John drove home to find police cars in front of the house. Donna was torn between hugging Jack and shouting at him, so she alternated between the two for a while and finally settled on kissing his cheek a thousand times or so and making him swear to never frighten them like that again. After everything was sorted with the police, they put Jack to bed and then headed off to collapse themselves.

That night John had a dream he had not had in years. One of his bizarre ones, he had more of them back when he had first met Donna. He always assumed it was some side effect of the accident.

This one was of a little boy. He always assumed it was of him. There were lots of people with severe expressions wearing robes and funny hats. There were other children dressed in the same robes as him, all the same age.

The adults led them to something. They called it "The Untempered Schism," though John never knew what that meant the next morning.

He walked towards it and it was as if he was seeing everything at once. It was overwhelming.

He ran.

He never stopped running and this was where the dream had always cut off, but now he was seeing everything. A great glass dome with a city beneath it with spires and cathedrals. Red grass. Trees with silver leaves. Twin suns.

He ran into a great seal with a funny sort of circular pattern on it.

When John woke up, he realized where he had seen the pattern before.

On his old, broken fob watch in the eaves storage.