Winfield, Kansas, July 4th, 1947...

Very slowly, Gilligan and Mary Ann crept out of the TARDIS. They had been extra careful not to wake up Nyssa or Tegan. "Looks like we're in the clear," Mary Ann said.

"Yeah," Gilligan replied. "How much time do we have to reach your parents, before the accident happens?"

"About an hour. We better hurry." Mary Ann said. The two of the began to make their way across the hay field. They had almost reached the road, when Mary Ann cried out and fell to the ground.

"Mary Ann! What happened?" Gilligan said as he ran to his friends side.

"I twisted my ankle," Mary Ann replied in pain. "I don't understand, I'm not usually so clumsy."

It's like time is trying to stop us, Gilligan thought. "Here, Mary Ann, let me help you up." He slowly helped Mary Ann to her feet. He looked at her ankle and saw that it was swelling up. "We better get back to the TARDIS and..."

"No, Gilligan, I can make it," Mary Ann said. "Please, we have to do this now."

"But..."

"Please!" Mary Ann said in a pleading voice.

"Okay, okay. Here, let me help you," Gilligan said. Very slowly, the two of them continued on their way.

OOOOOOOO

It had been a wonderful outing for Arthur Summers, his wife, Beatrice, and their young daughter, Mary Ann. They had spent the morning at the county fair and we now heading back home. Suddenly, the right front tire of the car blew out. As Arthur fought to control the car, he didn't see the tree that they were heading for until it was too late.

OOOOOOOO

After much walking, much of it helping Mary Ann along, the two former castaways arrived to the sight of the car squished against the tree. "Oh my God! We're too late!" Mary Ann said, tears starting to form in her eyes. "If I hadn't twisted my ankle..."

"It's like time itself was against us," Gilligan said slowly.

"It was," Nyssa said as she and Tegan emerged from some corn stalks.

"Good thing we planted that homing device on you, Gilligan," Tegan said. "We figured you two might try something like this."

"I... I... I don't understand," Mary Ann said. "Why did we end up here if I couldn't save my parents. Why..."

"I think I may know," Nyssa said. "Mary Ann, you mentioned to us that some people pulled you out of the car after the accident."

"That's right," Mary Ann said. "However, I was knocked out. I never saw them. I... You mean..."

"Yes, Mary Ann, it seems that we were those people," Nyssa said. "It's the only answer that makes sense."

"Then we better go rescue little Mary Ann," Gilligan said and headed for the car.

"There's a farm house nearby, I'll go there and call for an ambulance," Tegan said.

Meanwhile, Mary Ann had followed Gilligan to the wrecked car. As she reached it, she saw Gilligan open the back door and gently pull her nine year old self out. "She's gonna be okay," Gilligan said. "I mean she must be..."

However, Mary Ann was not listening. She had walked right up to the front of the car and saw that her mother, Beatrice Summers, was still alive. I thought she'd been killed instantly. Mary Ann thought.

"My daughter..." Beatrice moaned.

"It's all right," Mary Ann said in reassuring voice. "My friend got her out in time. I'm... She's going to be fine."

Beatrice took a good, long look at Mary Ann. "You... You grew up beautiful..."

She knows who I am, but how? Mary Ann thought.

Then, with a sigh, Beatrice slumped back into her seat, breathing her last breath.

"Mommy! No..." Mary Ann said and dissolved into tears as the reality of the situation overtook her. She had lost her parents, again.