Author's Notes: I do not own Doctor Who. Okay, so, it's been about three weeks, which is excessive, I grant you. Some stuff came up, but more importantly I wrote about five different versions of where this story was going. I promise you I did have a plan when I began this story, but then realized it was a lot like another story. I almost brought back the Master, the Rani, the 456, Rassilon, there was a cult for a while, so those aren't spoilers because none of those things are going to happen. I'm sorry if that disappoints you. Anyway, thank you for your reads and reviews and follows as always. Thanks for bearing with me. I so appreciate it. Let me know what you think and happy reading!

Ever since his mum had gone back to work, exploring had become so much easier for Jamie. Some afternoons now he went to karate or piano lessons, but for three afternoons a week his great-grandfather came to the house to watch he and his siblings.

And sometimes Wilf liked to nap.

So, Jamie explored. He went back up to the eaves storage in search of that old watch and book that had always intrigued him. They were gone now, but somehow Jamie found himself drawn to the back garden.

There was something in the potting shed, Jamie was certain of it. There was a lock on it, a new one, he was certain. He had to get in. He looked around back to find one of the small windows had been knocked out. It was just big enough for him to slide through. He found a step stool and jumped until he reached the opening and crawled through, falling in a heap on the other side.

He looked up to see a big, blue box. He walked around it to discover there was a door. He saw it was cracked open.

Jamie pushed the door open and walked inside to see a huge room. What sort of magic was this? How long had it been in the potting shed?

Then there was a humming. It took him by surprise.

"Hello?," he said, unsure of who or what he was talking to.

The hum came back.

"I'm Jamie Smith. I live in the house."

There was a hum again. A door opened to a cupboard.

He walked inside. There was a shelf with four boxes on it. A light appeared and shone on the last one in the row.

He picked it up and held it. It was the same as when he had held his dad's fob watch. He opened it to see another fob watch.

Jamie opened it up.

Zoe sat in her bedroom, playing with her dolls. Jamie ran in.

"Zoe! You won't believe what's in the potting shed!"

"What?"

"A time machine! And it's telepathic!"

Zoe frowned. "What's telepathic?"

Jamie groaned. "If you're going to be like that..." He paused. "Oh, here."

He handed her a box with circles on it.

"What is it?," asked Zoe.

"Don't know, but it's got your name on it."

"No, it doesn't," said Zoe.

"It does in Gallifreyan."

"What's Gallifreyan?"

Just then, Greta wandered in.

"Gramps!," called Jamie. "Greta is starving! She can't keep waiting for one meal a day at six o'clock!"

"What are you doing?," asked Zoe.

"I'm talking to the dog."

Jamie ran out. Zoe stared at the box in her hands.

The Doctor found himself surprised, shocked even, at the way in which he was able to become engrossed in ordinary human life. He had always thought it would be some fresh hell, but it wasn't. Mind you, there were moments at which he found it intolerable: traffic, the Parents' Council, Sylvia. Of course he hadn't really found those things tolerable as John Smith. There were other things to make up for it, not to mention the odd, accidental trip in the TARDIS. Donna seemed to really be enjoying herself as she began the new job, making things even better at home. They had sent the twins off to their first day of proper school. There was something adorable about them in their little blazers, all eager to learn. He had even found he had more time to help Jack with his dyslexia. He had put all the boy's textbooks and required readings on audio files. Donna marvelled at when he had time to do it all. The answer was, of course, that he didn't sleep, but he feigned some excuse about having down time at work. That was partially true, the job of making money for the charity was so simple with psychic paper and the advantage of knowing which mutual funds and stocks might do what. They were rolling in money without noticeable detriment to the time lines.

Charlotte was still a challenge. He hadn't found any secret Time Lord way around that. Donna assured him that she was just being a pre teen. She would soon turn into a teenage girl and they could be difficult at the best of times.

The Doctor was actually quite familiar with that phenomenon.

Overall, life was very, very good.

It was Geoffrey and Sylvia's wedding anniversary. They were celebrating it with Geoffrey and the children. They were finishing up dinner, feasting on the anniversary cake.

"You let them have too much sugar, they'll be up all night," warned Sylvia as the children laughed in the other room.

"Thank you, Mum, I never put that together," said Donna. She looked at the Doctor. "Did you ever notice that?"

Wilf and Geoffrey smiled knowingly.

"How is the new job, love?," asked Geoff.

"Great," said Donna. "I actually got a little bit of a promotion. I'm head of the secretarial pool."

"That's great, sweetheart," said Wilf.

"You didn't tell me that," said the Doctor.

"It's not that big a deal," Donna insisted.

"Of course it is," said the Doctor.

"I hope it doesn't mean more time away from the children," said Sylvia. "I don't know how much longer Dad can be expected to sit for you."

"I don't mind it, sweetheart," said Wilf. "It's only a couple of afternoons a week and it gives me an excuse to close down early. Besides, I get to spend time with my great grandchildren."

"I appreciate it, Gramps. Really. No, Mum, it's not that much extra work."

"Children need someone at home."

Donna nodded. "Right."

The Doctor groaned. "Oh, Sylvia, could you just drop it for once?"

"Pardon?," asked Sylvia.

"Every bloody time we come over here, you have to needle into Donna about something. You've been doing it since I've known you, probably since she was born and you just won't let up! It's like being in the seventh circle of Hell and I should know, I've been there!"

"John," Donna said, totally shocked.

"What?," asked the Doctor, taking another bite of cake.

"You can't speak to me like that!," said Sylvia.

"I'm sorry, did I say something that wasn't true?" He looked around. "Anyone? No?"

They were stunned. John Smith had never had an unkind word for anyone. Just then, Jamie and Zoe chose the perfect moment to run in, looking adorable.

"What's going on?," asked Jamie.

"Nothing, sweetheart," said Donna, casting glances at the Doctor and her mother. "Did you enjoy the cake?"

"Yes," said Jamie. He looked at his grandparents. "You should have an anniversary every Sunday."

Geoff and Wilf laughed.

"Come here, my boy," said Geoff, holding his arms out.

Jamie went to his grandfather. Zoe sat on the Doctor's lap, curling up against him. Geoffrey hoisted the little boy on his lap.

"What are you feeding this boy?," Geoff asked.

"Too much cake," Sylvia muttered.

The Doctor was about to speak up again when he noticed Donna's hand on his wrist.

"Granddad, have you been to the doctor lately?," asked Jamie.

"Oh, no, I try to stay as far away from that lot as I can."

"You should go," said Jamie, sniffing. "Something doesn't seem right."

"Jamie, don't be rude," said Donna.

"Something's wrong!," Jamie insisted, looking tortured.

"It's alright, Donna. He can't help himself," said Geoff.

"You should see the GP. A man of your age?," said Sylvia. "You may as well be playing Russian Roulette."

Geoff groaned.

"You really ought to, Dad," said Donna. "I don't know what would happen if you were..." She shook her head, overcome by her own emotions. "Sorry."

"Well, if it'll give you peace of mind, Donna, I'll go," said Geoff. "I'll ring first thing."

"Thanks, Dad," said Donna.

"Oh, so you'll give her peace of mind, but not me?," asked Sylvia.. "I ought to give you a piece of my mind."

Later that week, the Doctor was surprised to find Donna at home early. Wilf was sitting next to her on the sofa, patting her on the back as she cried,

"Donna, what's wrong?," asked the Doctor. "Is it one of the children?" His mind raced. These little human bodies were so fragile, he wondered how they got through a day, let alone a lifetime.

"They're fine," said Donns.

"What's happened?" he sat down on her free side.

"It's Geoffrey," said Wilf. "He's got a tumor. They're doing tests. It may be nothing."

Donna stiffened. "But it was serious enough that the doctor dropped what he was doing to get Dad to hospital straightaway."

"I'm so sorry, Donna," said the Doctor. "I don't know what to say."

"Thank God for Jamie," said Donna.

"Jamie?," asked the Doctor.

"He was the one that thought something was wrong with Dad," said Donna.

The Doctor shook his head. "Surely, it's just a coincidence."

"Divine intervention, I call it," said Wilf.

"Yes, the Doctor said, nodding his head in agreement.

Something wasn't quite right.

Donna spent the evening on the phone with various relatives, disseminating information. Geoffrey had a small cell carcinoma in his right lung. The good news was that they had caught it early and it wouldn't have a chance to spread after an operation and chemotherapy. The Doctor went through the usual routine of doing dinner and helping the children with their homework. Finally, it was time to put the twins to bed.

"Will Granddad be alright?," asked Jamie.

"I think he will," said the Doctor. He sat on his bedside. "Jamie, what made you think something was wrong with your grandfather?"

The boy shrugged. "I don't know."

"What's the atomic number of Zinc?"

"What's Zinc?"

"What's a hundred times pi divided by seven?"

"What?" The boy looked at him as if he was from outer space.

Oh. Right.

The Doctor took out his sonic screwdriver.

"What's that, Daddy," Zoe asked from her bed.

"Oh, you know, it's a thing."

He scanned Jamie. Nothing. Just human. He put the sonic screwdriver away and kissed him good night, then went to Zoe and repeated the process.

"Good night," said the Doctor, shutting the door on them.

Oh, well. Just a coincidence then. The universe had been subject to stranger coincidences.

"How did you know Granddad was ill?," Zoe asked after the door was shut and she was certain her dad couldn't hear her talking.

"I smelled it," Jamie whispered back.

"How could you smell it?"

"I don't know." He paused. "Did you open your locket yet?"

"No," said Zoe. She pulled it out from under her pillow. She had kept it there since Jamie gave it to her. "I don't want to open it."

"What? Are you scared? Scaredy cat! Scaredy cat!"

The door flung open. Donna stood in the doorway silhouetted by the light of the hall.

"Oi! It's bedtime you two! What's all this noise I hear?"

"Nothing," said Jamie.

"Good," said Donna. She walked to him and kissed him, then went to Zoe. "Good night, my loves. I love you so much."

"Love you," said Jamie.

"I love you, Mummy," said Zoe.

Donna shut the door with a smile. Zoe stuffed the locket back under her pillow and tried not to think about it.

She certainly didn't hear it speaking to her.