Chapter Ten

The Doctor pressed a button on the console and a large mirror rose up out of the floor, he was wearing a black suit with a white shirt and a black tie. Sighing he put on his jacket and buttoned the front.

Ten whole days since the incident in G.I.N. HQ, and a lot had happened. Using The Tardis the Doctor had taken the body of Vox and Clodax back to the central base of USLO. The USLO Council had offered him a medal, but he had refused. Taylor (Commander Lyons' personal secretary was making a full recovery in hospital though he had decided to retire from G.I.N. as he had suffered severe nerve damage in his shoulders and arms.

Now the day of Pip O'Niell's funeral had arrived. The Doctor had made it clear that they would be going. Jess appeared behind him wearing a black dress and shoes.

"Your doing the right thing" Jess said smiling. She took his hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

The funeral was held in a nearby church, Pip's coffin was placed infront of the alter with a smiling photo of her on top.

After they had all entered a middle-aged priest approached his lecturn as he did so Jess looked around, there were only about twenty-five people and apart from Herself, The Doctor and Commander Lyons she didn't recognise anyone else and wondered who they were. "Dearly Beloved" The Priest began "We assemble here in the most saddened of gatherings, as we commemorate the body of Philippa Gladys O'Niell to the ground and eternal rest. I believe that Commander John Lyons former RN retired would like to come and say a few words."

Lyons was dressed in his full navel uniform with his hat under his arm he walked up to the lecturn. "For those who don't know I was Pip O'Niell's boss. I had only known Miss O'Niell for seven years and I admit we kept ourselves to ourselves. My predecessor Commander Raymond Stevens, knew her better, I asked him if he would come, but unfortunately he had been unavoidably detained. However he did give me Miss O'Neill's biography." He paused and took a deep breath

"Phillipa Gladys O'Niell was born on the 24th April 1979. At 21 she went to the University of Sunderland and achieved a first in information technology and physics, after leaving the university with both a BA and an MA. She applied for a job as a technical support assistant with G.I.N. he technological knowledge soon made her head of the technology department.

"However I can reveal today that she had a massive secret which she kept to the end. At 24 she changed her name by 'Interpol'. Pip O'Niell's original name was Michelle Davis, the reasons why she changed it are unclear, but she did change her name. Loved by those who knew her Pip O'Niell will never be forgotten by neither myself, the people of G.I.N. Commander Stevens and Doctor John Smith, whom she had a strong friendship. Thank you" and he clambered down for the lecturn.

Pip O'Niell was buried in the churchyard and the party walked slowly back. Jess kept looking at the Doctor, she had questions but didn't know if they were the right time to ask him. Eventually she did, they were in the Tardis. The Doctor was leaning heavily on console but he had pressed any buttons, pulled any levers or twisted and dials. He just stood there staring down at the controls.

"Did you know?" Jess asked

"Know what?" The Doctor replied

"That Pip was actually Michelle?" Jess explained, she remembered the laughs she had shared with Michelle Davies during a previous adventure, suddenly it all made sense, it had been Michelle who had told her to stay and look after The Doctor, but years had passed and how could she have known.

As if reading her mind The Doctor said "Perhaps it's just one of the mysteries that time has a way of creating."

"Time" Jess said smiling "Doctor you can go and save her, this is a time machine after all, just go back and save her."

The Doctor looked up "Don't you think I haven't already thought of that" he said his voice trembling with a mixture of anger sadness. "I can't, everyone needs to be born and everyone needs to die."

"I know but Pip's life could be extended you can push her into the Tardis, kill the Hook and bring her back once it's all settled."

"Because it would break the laws of time travel, like I said everything has to be born and then it has to die. That's not me being selfish, that the way time works" he finished angrily.

He reached out and pulled the take-off lever and instantly the Tardis Engine growled into life.

"Where are we going next?" Jess asked in a polite and slightly innocent way.

The Time Rotor stopped "Go outside and take a look." The Doctor said. Jess smiled and scampered down towards the doors, unseen by her The Doctor's face was stern, his hand hovering over the take-off lever.

Jess pushed open the doors and found herself in a strange environment, she was standing opposite a house which looked similar to her own. The Street name read "Highdale Street" and it was a perfectly warm summer afternoon "You've brought me home" she said "But why?"

When no answer came she turned to see that The Doctor hadn't followed her, the doors were still open and she could see his tall frame standing at the console. "I'm so sorry" he said and pulled the lever.

Instantly the doors closed and the light on the top began to flash, "NO!" Jess shouted and she began to run back towards the blue box. Her hand out stretched, but The Tardis was already dematerializing a huge gust of wind fought against her, Jess felt like it was trying to hold her back. She closed her hand around the Tardis door handle but then… Nothing, her hand closed on air and the Blue box has completely disappeared.

Jess sat down and began to cry, she knew that she would never see The Doctor again.