Author's Notes: I do not own Doctor Who, the Duplicate Doctor or anyone. Thanks for the reads and reviews. I appreciate it. Also, hello, lurkers. What have you been up to? So, let me know what you think and happy reading.
There were many duties that the High President of the Council of the Time Lords might find taxing.
The one Lady President Romana found most taxing was being there when the Doctor came in with some ludicrous plan or other. This was one such day. He barged in, the Oracle with him and said:
"The Oracle has something to ask."
The Oracle cast a glare at him. She turned back to Romana and smiled.
"I need a break in the barrier," she said.
"Two actually," interrupted the Doctor, "one there and one back. Well, what if we forget something? Then we'll need three, no four."
"And what do you need a break in the barrier for?," asked Romana.
"I have a pass to Disneyland Clom," said the Doctor, "it's going to expire if I don't use it in the next three days."
The Oracle turned. "That's the story you came up with?"
"It's a park hopper," he said, sounding offended.
"What do you really need, Doctor?," asked Romana, tiring quickly. There may have been a time when she found the Doctor charming, but his latest regeneration didn't impress her.
"I need to go to Earth, the Silence have returned to there. One of my former companions needs my help."
"The one who led the Silence to Gallifrey?"
"No. One of the good ones."
"Which one?"
"Sorry?," he asked.
"Which one?," Romana repeated tersely.
"One of the really good ones," said the Doctor. He looked at the Oracle. "Right?"
"Yes, the good ones," she confirmed
"We can't risk a break in the barrier because a companion needs a favor. I'm sorry."
"The only breaks have been since Mayantha went to get the Master as you asked. She told you the Silence had arrived there. The humans are being forced to wage our war and they're nowhere near as good at it. Well, as good at it as we would be if we had actually bothered to fight them!" He looked at the Oracle, seeing another glare. "What?"
"What part of this was in the plan?," she asked.
"Well, I've made some alterations since the planning phase."
"Doctor, the answer is no," said Romana.
"Oh, come on! This planet has been on a fifteen year tea break! It's about time we got back to the match, don't you think?"
"This is exactly why you're not the one making these decisions."
"No. Perish the thought that we should actually do something."
Romana steamed. "If you're going to continue to comport yourself in this manner, I will have to ask you to leave."
"I came to you, on hands and knees and begged for help to find my child and you gave me nothing. I thought you were a lot of things, Romana, but I never thought you were a coward."
Romana stood. "Leave now!"
"Always lovely to see you, Romana," said the Doctor.
The Oracle and the Doctor left, beginning the walk back to the house.
"Well," said the Oracle, "the Castellans didn't toss us out. I suppose that is something. It's a first at least."
The Doctor took his sonic screwdriver out of his pocket.
"What? Did you think I was actually trying to make her mad? Well, I was, but only because I knew she would never say yes. I'll leave the actual fighting to you two."
The Oracle rolled her eyes. "That was a very volatile regeneration. I haven't fought over you in a good four hundred years. Now, care to share anything else from the planning phase?"
"I accessed the High Council's databanks with the access codes for the barrier. We can come and go as we please. At least until someone figures it out."
"This couldn't possibly backfire."
"Well, what choice do we have, really? The Silence are out there, they're going to take another child and do who knows what. Then there's the matter of this Bad Wolf thing. What did you find in the Matrix?"
"Nothing, really. Just some legends about some sort of creature that lives in the Time Vortex."
The Doctor scoffed. "A creature that lives in the Time Vortex? Nonsense."
"I didn't make it up, I just researched it and that's all I could find.
Mayantha was waiting when they arrived home.
"What did she say?," she asked anxiously.
"She rejected us. Obviously," said the Doctor. "Lydia!"
"What?," asked Mayantha.
"Obviously we're going anyway," said the Doctor. "Lydia!"
Mayantha looked at the Oracle. "Should we do that?"
"Is she really my daughter?," asked the Doctor. "Rule number one, when the High Council says not to do something, do it anyway."
"I thought rule one was the Doctor lies," said the Oracle. "Or was it, don't wander off?"
Lydia entered. "Yes, Dad?"
"Pack a bag. We're going on a trip."
"A trip?," asked Lydia.
The Oracle walked up to the Doctor, closing the distance. "Do you think that's a good idea?"
"No, I think it's a fantastic idea."
"She's too young to be off planet."
"Yes, that would be true if she were at the Academy, but she's not at the Academy, so she's not too young."
"That's your argument?"
"I took Susan when she wasn't so much older."
"Yes, let's follow that shining example!"
They both turned to find Lydia and Mayantha staring at them.
"If she doesn't go now, then when?," asked the Doctor.
The Oracle sighed. "Lydia, pack a bag."
"Vamonos!," said the Doctor.
All three women looked at him.
"It's Spanish for let's go," he said.
"Please stop trying to invent catchphrases," said the Oracle.
Georgiana awoke from her nap and looked over at Donna.
"Mummy!"
Donna smiled. She walked over to the playpen and picked her up. "How did you know Mummy was almost done with reading the contracts for the Mexican deal? You stop her just short every time!"
Georgiana looked as if that meant nothing to her because it didn't. "Daddy?"
"No, sweetheart, still at work."
"Josh?"
"He has astronomy club today, they've gone to the planetarium."
"Ella?"
"Ballet class."
Georgiana pouted. Donna smiled and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"I know it must seem like everyone is busy, but Mummy will play with you, I just have to make a call. Okay?"
Donna put Georgiana in her baby walker. The tray had all sorts of toys and baubles on it, but Donna knew it would buy her ten minutes at best.
Georgiana was sitting in her walker when she heard a noise. She struggled to turn it around and saw a blue box. A tall man in a bowtie stepped out of it.
"Earth! Smell that twenty-first century air!" He spun around to look at Georgiana. "Ooh! Look! Tiny human! No, wait." He walked over and sniffed her. "Ginger Time Baby!"
Two women stepped out.
"Look!," said the Doctor. "I told you! Ginger Time Baby! And they've put it in a little chair with wheels!"
"Yes, you win," said the Oracle.
The Doctor lifted Georgiana out of the walker. "Look at you! All ginger! I always wanted to be ginger!" He looked at the family portrait over the mantle. "Oh, that must be the family! Mummy and Daddy, brother, sister and you in there!"
"Doctor, perhaps you should put her down," said the Oracle.
"Put her down? She's a Ginger Time Baby! Lydia, come out and see the Ginger Time Baby!"
"I'm fine," Lydia called from inside the TARDIS.
"It's a Ginger Time Baby! That's like finding a unicorn!" He paused. "On this planet...in this century!"
"Who the hell are you?"
They turned to see Donna shouting at the Doctor.
"How did you get in here? Where did that giant blue box come from?" She stopped and saw Mayantha. "Mayantha!"
"Hi," she said.
She looked back at the Doctor. "What's going on?"
"That's my dad, the Doctor, and this is my mother, the Oracle."
"We're the Doctoracle," said the Doctor.
"No, we aren't," said the Oracle quickly.
"I thought you looked just like John," said Donna.
"I did, then I regenerated. Long story, not pleasant, I was just admiring your Ginger Time Baby. She is fantastic! What is she? Six? Seven?"
Donna narrowed her eyes at him. "She's a year on Saturday."
"Really? That's all?" He paused. "She says I should give her back to you before you get mad." He delicately placed the baby back in Donna's arms.
"She says?," asked Donna.
"I speak baby."
"You speak baby?"
"Yes. She also wants to know why she has to be in the chair when you leave the room, it's very hard to turn around quickly. Also, she thinks she's ready to drive the car."
Donna stared at him.
"Yes," said the Oracle, "my husband often has that effect on people." She approached and shook Donna's still shocked hand. "It's lovely to be here. Mayantha has told us all about you."
"I should phone John," said Donna.
"Right! Of course! Don't mind us." He leaned in to Donna. "You wouldn't happen to have any little cakes with edible ball bearings, would you? Maybe a Jammie Dodger?"