Chapter 9
"Doctor Joan Smith, you are under arrest for the kidnap of Jennifer Dunst."
"What? I didn't kidnap her; she came of her own accord!"
"It's true, officer, I swear!" Jennifer said.
"I'm taking you to the station," the police officer said, clapping handcuffs on the Doctor and helping her into the police car.
"I want that police box taken to UNIT HQ immediately!" another officer, this time from UNIT, said into his radio.
The policeman turned to Jennifer. "We're taking you to the station too, to be reunited with the one who reported you missing," he said to her.
"I don't want to go!" Jennifer said. "I went with the Doctor of my own accord, I wasn't kidnapped!"
"Do you have to move my TARDIS?" the Doctor said.
"Yes, we do," the policeman said.
"You're making a mistake!" Faria said.
"Who are you?" asked the policeman.
"I am Faria McDonald. I come from the year 3596 Anno Domini. I am 25 years old and I've just begun travelling with the Doctor. I don't know the whole story, but they don't get on as if Jennifer was brought onto the TARDIS against her will."
"Well, Faria, I've still got to take these two to the station-"
"Bring me with you, then!" Faria shouted.
"Okay. Get in the car," the policeman said, and Faria got into the car next to the Doctor.
At the station, the Doctor was put into a holding cell after the handcuffs were removed. There was a woman dressed in a business suit waiting.
"Mrs. Dunst, here is your daughter," the police officer said, giving Jennifer a little nudge towards the woman.
"I'm 24 years old! I do wish you wouldn't make me go with her!" Jennifer said.
"Jennifer-"
"No! I'm sick of your abusive manner, Mom; I've still got the injury you gave me three days ago when you came at me with a knife!" Jennifer said, tears pouring down her face, as she lifted her shirt to expose her belly, where a large gash mended with stitches was splayed across it.
"Jennifer, please listen-"
"No! You knew where I was! You just wanted me back home to be your own personal punching bag! I'm sick of it! I wasn't kidnapped, I told you I was going with the Doctor, and guess what that caused? This!" Jennifer gestured to her belly, and then put her shirt back down.
"Mrs. Dunst, I am arresting you for domestic violence, the proof is right under your daughter's shirt," the police officer said, then began to read her her rights. The door to the Doctor's cell was unlocked, Mrs. Dunst was placed in, and the Doctor was allowed to leave.
"I'm so sorry, Doctor," the policeman said. The Doctor looked over at her companions to see Faria talking to Jennifer.
"Are you okay? Should we stay here so you can get your stitches out in the right amount of time?" Faria said to Jennifer.
"If you want. If the Doctor wants," Jennifer said.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that," Faria said, then kissed Jennifer on the cheek. She reached over to get a tissue and handed it to the girl in front of her.
"You two okay?" the Doctor asked the two. Jennifer nodded.
"What do you want to do, Jennifer?" the Doctor said.
"When I got my stitches done, the doctor said to come back in about ten days, so why don't we goof around for seven days' worth of adventures, then come back and have the doctor take them out?" Jennifer said.
"Sounds good, but since you're still healing, why don't we try to go for the tamer adventures, eh? So you don't injure your injury," the Doctor said, placing her hands on Jennifer's shoulders.
"Sounds good," Jennifer said with a smile.
"Or I could do it, I promise I'm a trained medical professional," the Doctor inquired.
"Only if I can see your degree."
"I have one!" the Doctor said, slightly offended.
"I thought you were officially listed in the UNIT archives as being Dr. John Smith? How did you get that fixed now that you're a girl?" Jennifer asked.
"UNIT filed that I had a sex change and that my new name was Dr. Joan Smith. I quite like it," the Doctor said.
"Glad you like it, Doctor," Jennifer said. The Doctor turned to Faria.
"So, you've decided to come with me on my adventures, hm?" the Doctor said.
"Yep. I can, can't I?" Faria asked, her hands clasped by her chin.
"Of course you can," the Doctor said with a smile, then noticed something.
"You're taller than me. Why are you taller than me?" the Doctor said, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, Doctor, you aren't very tall," Jennifer said.
"Really? How come I'm just noticing? Anyways, come along, you two," the Doctor said with a smile. "By the way, where is my TARDIS?"
"UNIT HQ," said a man in a UNIT uniform.
"Thank you. Be sure to tell Martha Jones and Kate Stewart I said hello," the Doctor said, walking out of the station.
"At least UNIT isn't far from here," Jennifer said.
"I'm standing in 2014. I can't believe it, it's like I walked straight into one of my history books!" Faria said.
"It's not that great. Women still aren't 100% equal, same-sex marriage isn't legal in a good portion of the world, and the iPhone costs hundreds of dollars more than it's actually worth," Jennifer said.
"Yep, I remember. Worldwide marriage equality doesn't happen until Russia legalizes same-sex marriage in 2057," Faria said. "21st Century is my field of study at university."
"Really?" asked the Doctor.
"Yup."
"When do women get paid the same as men do?" Jennifer asked.
"2046," Faria answered, "when the Equal Pay Act finally gets enforced."
"And what about technology in 3596, what's that like?" Jennifer asked.
Jennifer and Faria talked about their different times all the way to the TARDIS, until the Doctor decided she was sick of it and asked the two to either change the subject or shut up. The TARDIS dematerialized.