A/N: Jeelie is Scottish for jelly.
Chapter Sixty Six
"Daddy?" seven year old Zoe asked as she walked down the hallway and went around the corner. She liked the inside of their TARDIS, with its grand hallways made to look like stone and wooden beams in the corners and the McCrimmon family crest was painted on the shield that hung on the walls. She often felt like a princess in a magic castle and the soft sound of bagpipes floated through the air. Walking through the archway that led to the gallery, she saw her father, Jamie, sitting on a wooden stool and a canvass sat on a large wooden stand.
Jamie had learned how to paint a long time ago in the life he led after the accident that stripped half of his mind into a fob watch but he didn't feel much like painting after his mind had been restored.
"Why do ye want me tae learn how tae paint?" he has asked his wife, Rosealie, when she suggested he take it up as something to do while he was healing.
"Mebbe it will help ye remember," she had told him but he never did paint anything that reminded him of his life before the accident. He did become good at sketching and painting her and their children and had some paintings hanging on the walls of their house.
"Och, that's lovely," Rosealie had told him when he showed her the painting he had done of her and he had shyly smiled at her.
"Ye're just saying it's good so I wonae get frustrated," he has told her but she denied it and that was the first time she kissed him.
"Ooo, is that Mommy?" Zoe asked when Jamie blinked and looked down at her.
"Aye, that's Mommy," Jamie said as he cleaned the brush and placed the brush on the table to his left. Carefully, he picked her up then sat her on his lap and wrapped his arms around her.
"That's really good, Daddy," she said and he softly laughed, kissing the top of her head.
"Och, you're just saying that."
"No, it's really good!"
"Well then, I thank you kindly for your kind words," he said and she leaned against his chest, barely feeling his hearts beating against her back.
"I didnae ken that you knew how tae paint."
"Aye, I used tae paint a lot before I met your mommy."
"Was that when you were married tae Rosealie?" she asked, looking up at him. Jamie and Jenna thought it was a good idea to tell the twins most of his past and mentioned that he had been married to Rosealie.
"Aye, it was her idea for me tae learn how," he said and she started playing with his fingers.
"I still dinnae believe that you lived in another time," she said as he arched an eyebrow at her and pouted, sticking his lower lip out.
"Would you like me tae prove it tae you?" he asked.
"But Uncle Doctor said we cannae go into our own timelines or it will mess everything up," Zoe said when a cold chill moved through Jamie and he shivered. "Are you ok, Daddy?"
"I'm nae sure," Jamie said and she sat up, looking at him.
"Should I go get Aunt Martha?" she asked as her voice echoed in his ears and he blinked, shaking his head side to side. "Daddy, you're scaring me."
Not saying a word, he picked her up then left the room and headed down the hallway. She placed her head on his shoulder when he walked into the control room and placed her on the wooden bench. It was their version of the jump seat and he walked around the console, pushing buttons, moving levers, flipping switches then set the co ordinance and pulled the main lever down. He had never flown the TARDIS by himself as he held onto the console and the TARDIS vanished.
(Theta's universe)
Inverness, Scotland.
The soft clicking sound filled the air while a long stick clicked on the cobblestones and twenty-five year old Hamish McCrimmon softly smiled while feeling the sunlight on his face. It was rare for him to feel it since it was usually cold and misty but he was enjoying his stroll and nodded when people called to him. Being born blind, he wasn't expected to come to much but his parents never treated him like a cripple and encouraged him to be as independent as possible.
"Ack!" he gasped when someone grabbed him from behind and giggled. Coming around to his front and kissing his lips, Lucy McCullen-McCrimmon looked at her husband and brushed some of the light brown fringe from his eyes. She watched as his left hand rose up to touch her face and he smiled, kissing her back. "Dinnae do that."
"Why, cannae I kiss my husband?" Lucy asked and Hamish grinned.
"Aye, but only when we're alone an' we're nae alone," he said and she looked at the people staring at them.
"How did ye ken that we're being watched?"
"It's way too quiet," he said with a grin and she softly laughed.
"Then they should be on their way an' nae be looking at us!" she shouted and two women snorted, walking away.
"Och, ye're gonna get us in trouble," he said with a laugh and she scooped her arm around his arm.
"I'm nae scared of them. Besides, they wouldnae dare lay a hand on ye," she said as he rolled his sightless eyes and shook his head. Suddenly his sensitive ears heard a soft wheezing and grinding sound and he brushed her arm away, walking in a circle. "What's wrong?"
"Dinnae ye hear that?" he said and she looked around, trying to see what he was hearing. She knew that he heard things better than she did and gently took hold of his hand. "It's coming from that direction." Turning to his left, he tapped the stick on the ground and they walked down the cobblestones.
The TARDIS materialized when the doors opened and Jamie led Zoe outside, closing and locking the doors behind them. The TARDIS changed into a large hay wagon fill with hay as she smiled and he patted her head. Jamie was dressed in a tan linen shirt, a black leather belt, a pair of brown trousers, white socks and brown work boots. He felt a bit naked without his sporran and kilt but he knew that this was after the Battle of Culloden and Scottish men didn't wear them anymore. He did have his dirk hidden in his sock and he placed the battered brown cap on his head. Zoe was wearing a tan dress, white socks and brown shoes and she watched Jamie placed the imager around his neck, tucking it into his shirt. Jamie was now six feet one inch tall with red hair and green eyes and had a tightly muscular build. Holding his hand out, he smiled at her and Zoe took his hand. Jamie thought the imager would help them walk around the city without causing too many stares and they started walking down the alleyway.
"Are ye sure it came from here?" Lucy's voice asked when Jamie stopped and hid Zoe behind him.
"Aye, I'm sure," a familiar voice said as Jamie's hearts sped up and he watched as his blind son started walking toward them and the stick clicked on the cobblestones.
"Daddy, why is he using that stick?" Zoe thought to him and Jamie sighed.
"It's because he's blind," Jamie thought.
"How can you tell from here?"
"Because, Jeelie Bean, that's my son," he thought and Zoe's eyes went wide. Hamish and Lucy walked closer when Lucy stopped and Hamish turned his head toward her.
"What's wrong?" he asked and she hushed him.
"Someone's there," she whispered and he blinked his sightless eyes. Letting go of her arm, he slowly moved closer and she gasped. "Hamish, no, dinnae get any closer!"
"Heh, they try anything an' they'll taste my stick!" he said as he twirled the stick around like a battle staff and Zoe was amazed that he didn't smack himself with it.
"How did he do that, Daddy?" she thought and Jamie smiled.
"With a lot of practice," Jamie thought and Zoe giggled.
"Hold, we mean ye no harm," Jamie said as he held his hand up but sighed, forgetting he couldn't see him.
"Identify yerself, Stranger," Hamish said, placing the stick down.
"I am Robert Frazer Grey," Jamie said as Zoe looked up at him and frowned.
"That's nae your name, Daddy," she thought.
"I cannae tell him my real name, Jeelie Bean," he thought and she nodded.
"And I'm Zoe Victoria Grey," Zoe said as Hamish walked closer and tapped the end of the stick against her toes.
"What are ye an' your bairn doing here, Sir?" he asked and Jamie smiled.
"We are new in town an' lost our way while looking for the inn," Jamie said as Lucy walked closer and he fought the urge to smile at his daughter-in-law.
"Where are ye from, Sir?" she asked.
"We're from a village north of here. I recently lost my wife an' land so I came down here, looking for work."
"An' how old are you?" Lucy asked as she knelt down and looked at Zoe.
"I'm seven years old," Zoe said when Lucy smiled then stood up and looked at Jamie. Lucy moved back as Hamish walked closer and held his hand out toward Zoe's face. Taking his hand like she did with Namid, she led his hand toward her face and he moved his fingers, feeling the curves and dips of her face.
"What color is yer hair?" he asked.
"It's brown," Zoe said and Lucy looked at Jamie's red hair.
"She had her mother's hair," he said sofly and Lucy nodded.
"Ye feel like a pretty wee lass," Hamish said when he walked to Jamie and Jamie's hearts went faster. The one problem with an imager is if someone touched the person wearing it, they feel the person under the illusion. Holding his breath, he gently took Hamish's hand and guided it toward his face. He already registered Hamish's reaction to him touching his hand and prayed that he didn't make a mistake. Hamish gently moved his fingers across Jamie's face when he moved closer and placed his lips to Jamie's ear.
"Pa-pa?" he whispered and Jamie felt his hearts cracking.
"Aye," Jamie whispered and Hamish nodded, moving back a bit.
"Ah, I seem tae remember a Robert Grey from when my father took me tae the north on a trade run when I was a lad," he said with a wink and Jamie smiled. The one thing Hamish wasn't was stupid and knew how to play along when someone had a secret they needed to keep.
"What is yer name then, Friend?" Jamie asked.
"I am Hamish William McCrimmon," Hamish said and Jamie grinned.
"Hammy McCrimmon?" he asked with a shocked look and Hamish nodded. "Bless me, it's been years!"
"Ye ken him then, Ham?" Lucy asked, looking confused.
"Aye," Hamish said with a nod of his head and Lucy slid her arm around his. "Robbie, this is my wife, Lucy."
"A pleasure," Jamie said with a bow and Zoe and Lucy giggled.
"Lucy, Love, if it's alright with ye, can I go show Robbie where the inn is?" Hamish asked with a pout.
"Of course," Lucy said when she kissed Hamish' cheek then nodded a goodbye to Jamie and Zoe. They watched her walk away when Hamish tapped the stick against Jamie's toes and blinked.
"Ye can start explaining what my father is doing in an alley with a wee lass who isnae his daughter," Hamish asked and folded his arms over his chest.
"She is my daughter but, as to how an' what is going on, ye need tae a leap of faith, aye?" Jamie asked and Hamish sighed, tilting his head to one side.
"What are ye on aboot?" he asked when Jamie took the imager off and handed it to Zoe. Taking Hamish's hand, they walked to the TARDIS when he unlocked the door and Hamish blinked. "Where are we going?"
"Somewhere safe," Jamie said as he opened the doors and led Hamish inside the TARDIS. Hamish almost tripped while going up the ramp when Jamie led him to the wooden bench then sat him down. "Now, ye ken that I dinnae remember much aboot my past…"
"Aye, Mother said ye had an accident an' lost yer memory."
"Well, I got it back an' what I am, who I am, is something of story or dreams. Mebbe it would be better if I showed ye," Jamie sighed and Hamish laughed.
"Dad, there is no way ye can do that. I'm blind."
"Aye, but I can help ye see if ye let me," Jamie said as Hamish blinked then pouted. Thinking for a few seconds, Hamish nodded and Jamie walked closer, placing his fingers against Hamish's temples. The Doctor had taught him how to project his mind into Namid's mind so he could show her something and he hoped Hamish wouldn't pass out when he did the same to him. Gently, he project light then soft shadows and shapes then color until his face appeared before Hamish and Hamish's eyes went wide.
"What sort of magic is this? I can see!" Hamish said and Jamie sensed the confusion and fear in his mind.
"Hush, Lad, it's alright," he said and Hamish blinked.
"Is this what ye really look like?" Hamish asked as he reached out his hand and Jamie nodded. Suddenly Zoe appeared and smiled at him.
"Hi!" she said and he smiled.
"Are ye Zoe?" he asked and she nodded. Looking around, he took in the control room then looked at Jamie and Jamie kissed the top of his head. "What is all this?"
"Remember how I described the inside of the magical blue box in my stories?" Jamie asked and Hamish nodded.
"Are ye telling me that they werenae stories? That this is that box?" Hamish asked and Jamie nodded. Hamish listened as Jamie explained most of who and what he was and Hamish looked at the rotor moving up and down behind the glass. Brushing Jamie's hands away, he reached out as he stood up and used the stick to guide him toward the console. Placing his hand on the console, he used the other hand to reach out toward the glass and felt the rotor moving behind the glass. The TARDIS blew a warm wind over him as he smiled and could faintly hear a voice in his head, assuring him that everything was going to be alright.
"Hammy?" Zoe asked as he softly laughed then turned, tapping the stick on her toes. Kneeling down, he felt her wrapping her arms around his neck and he gently hugged her. Walking closer, Jamie placed his hand on Hamish's shoulder and Zoe looked at Jamie. "Daddy, are we messing things up?"
"No, Jeelie Bean, this was supposed tae happen," Jamie said with a smile and Zoe kissed Hamish's cheek. Holding onto her, Hamish stood up while Zoe wrapped her legs around his waist and Hamish balanced her on his hip.
"So, what do we do now?" Hamish asked.
"Och, Daddy, can the TARDIS fix Hammy's eyes so he can see?" Zoe asked and Hamish looked toward him with the same question in his sightless eyes.
"I wish she could but, no," Jamie said and Hamish sighed.
"Because if ye did that then people would wonder why I can suddenly see, aye?" Hamish asked.
"Aye, that's exactly why," Jamie sighed and Hamish nodded.
"Well, can we have something tae eat an' chat so I can get tae ken my little sister?" Hamish asked and Jamie smiled. After eating a traditional Scottish dinner and talking for what seemed like hours, Jamie led Hamish outside and Zoe was holding Hamish's hand. "Right, here comes the hard part."
"What are ye on aboot? Ye'll see me for Sunday supper," Jamie teased and Hamish sighed.
"Aye, but my wee sister wonae be there," he said, squeezing Zoe's hand.
"Aye, but she will be in yer head an' heart."
"That she will," Hamish said and carefully knelt down. Zoe hugged him then he stood up and Jamie walked to him, hugging him. "I love ye, Daddy."
"And I you," Jamie said then let go and ruffled Hamish's hair. "Now, no telling what happened, aye?"
"Who would believe me?" Hamish teased with a grin and they laughed. They said their goodbyes then Jamie led Zoe into the TARDIS and closed the doors. Hamish backed up when he heard the soft wheezing and grinding sound and the wind blew his hair around his head. Sighing, he tapped the stick three times on the cobblestones when he turned then walked down the alleyway and smiled.
"So, who's that?" Jenna said when she wrapped her arm around Jamie's shoulders and looked at the canvass. On the canvass was a sketch of Hamish and Zoe and Jamie looked at her, placing the charcoal on the table.
"That's my son, Hamish, and Zoe," he said then told her about going to his universe and Zoe meeting Hamish.
"And he never told a soul about it?" she asked with a concerned tone in her voice.
"No," Jamie said, shaking his head.
"But how did you know that you had to go see him?"
"He never told me but Lucy did! I guess a part of this mixed up mind of mine remembered so I had tae go or things, as Zoe would say, would get messed up," Jamie said and Jenna laughed. "And another thing, Zoe was the name of his first born daughter. It wouldnae been if they hadnae met, aye?"
"Aye," Jenna said and gently squeezed his shoulders.
Kissing the back of his head, Jenna left the room and Jamie sat back on the stool and looked at Hamish and Zoe smiling at him. Picking the charcoal up, he started drawing and the soft sound of bagpipes filled the air.