Liz Shaw

"Doctor, you can't keep me here under orders. I may be your assistant, but I can leave whenever I want, not when you decide to let me go."

"Liz, you're being unreasonable. You're a good scientist and that's just what I need around this place."

Liz shook her head. "May I remind you, Doctor, that I only came here on the Brigadier's call for one case? That I stayed as long as I have should tell you something."

The Doctor glared at the woman, knowing she was right, but loathe to send her away. She wanted to go back to Cambridge by her word. Well, if that's what she wanted, fine.

"Alright, Liz. You can go. But on one condition! You keep in touch."

She smiled at him and nodded. "Of course, Doctor. Unlike yourself, I don't plan on skipping out of town at the next convenient time it suits me, without saying goodbye first."

He stumbled over words for a few seconds, before mumbling a quick "Yes," and turning away.

Truth be told, it was still a little too soon after his forced little stay here on planet Earth, he wasn't doing too well, and Liz had been a great help to him in trying to fix his TARDIS. As he had told her not too long ago, he felt lost and adrift without the old girl working.

Not that he'd admit to not doing well, but his gruff nature towards nearly everyone, and especially the militant mind of the Brigadier, should have been a bit of a giveaway of that. Not to mention, always trying to get the TARDIS repaired, even though the memory of how to do so had been taken from him.

And now he was going to lose the one person who had made him feel at least slightly normal being stuck here. Liz had a brilliant mind, used it quite regularly and half the time could at least keep up with him in a conversation or experiment, even if that was mainly due to most of the equipment they had lying around being early 70's primitive junk which she knew how to handle.

Liz had been a rock for him, and he didn't know if he'd ever be able to replace her in attitude, brains and an ability to put up with his moods on a regular basis.

Still, she was right, he couldn't keep her here against her will. So, he'd let her go.

He just hoped he would find someone to replace her fast, or he'd have nothing to do.

Boredom was not a good state for him to be in.