Part Two: The Daniels

They burst into the Daniels family home. Mrs. Daniels, a short but still elegant woman, looked surprised. The Doctor took out his psychic paper and spoke quickly.

"John Smith, traveling pediatrician. Where's this Raymond and what's wrong with him?"

Mrs. Daniels regained composure. "He's upstairs, this way. We're not entirely sure what's wrong with him. He doesn't have an appetite, he's burning up but says he's cold, he's having trouble breathing, and…" she paused to make sure none of the children were around. "He's coughed up blood on occasion."

The Doctor calmly stepped into the spare room converted sick bay, where Raymond, no more than four years old, was being tended by his father. He was sweating and breathing hard. The Doctor's face hardened in concern.

"Mr. Daniels, I'm The Doctor. Might I examine the boy?"

Mr. Daniels, a stout, stern looking business man, nodded and let The Doctor bend over his son. Pulling out his stethoscope, he listened carefully to Ray's lungs. His suspicions were confirmed.

"Advanced tuberculosis," he murmured. "How long has he been ill?"

"Since last week," Mr. Daniels said softly. "Doctor, what's wrong with him? And more importantly, can you cure him?"

"Of course I can!" The Doctor said with a reassuring smile. "Now go to bed, all of you and get some well deserved rest. I'll take care of him tonight."

"Thank you," Mrs. Daniels said, closing the door behind her family.

The Doctor reached around in his bag—bigger on the inside, of course—and pulled out some 23rd century antibiotics. Gently, helped Ray swallow the pills, which unfortunately was the only form they were available in. On the upside, however, they worked remarkably fast. Ray would be better within two or three days at most.

The next morning, The Doctor was woken by another little girl, younger than Thelma. She poked him in the face again.

"Who are you?" The Doctor asked, confused.

"Elsie," the girl said. She looked to be about six or seven.

"Good morning Elsie, now go back to bed. It's way too early for you to be up."

"It's almost time for lunch," a new voice said, but The Doctor didn't notice.

"Is it? That's rude. Lunch isn't supposed to come this early."

"You're just exaggerating, Ray."

"Why are you on the floor?"

"The bed was taken," The Doctor said.

"You're funny."

"I'm serious…wait a minute, why did your voice change?"

Sitting up, The Doctor saw that Ray was awake and laughing at him. Elsie was sitting quietly on the floor beside him, sucking her thumb, and Thelma was standing with her arms crossed.

"Oh. There's three of you. I'm not entirely sure who said what. Sorry, I'm not myself in the morning. Er, let's not tell mum about this, shall we?"

"Your mum, or ours?" Thelma asked.

"Both," The Doctor said. Then realized with a start that he had no mother anymore. "Well, yours especially."

Only Thelma noticed the change in tone, but before she could ask if he was alright, The Doctor leapt up and smiled at Ray.

"Good morning Raymond! I see you're looking much better. How do you feel?"

"Good. I can breathe."

"Fantastic! But," he added, as Ray began to cough again. "You probably shouldn't sit up just yet."

"But how will I eat. I'm hungry."

"Course you are! You've just battled off a tiny army that wanted you…to be sick. And you've won a major battle. Tell you what. Elsie and I will pop down and get you some breakfast while Thelma can stay and make sure you're comfy."

"Okay."

"Good morning, Dr. Smith. I see you've met Elsie," Mrs. Daniels said when they met her in the parlor. "I hope she didn't bother you."

"Not at all," The Doctor lied. "I'm pleased to report that Ray, or do you prefer to call him Raymond?"

"We use either one," Mrs. Daniels said kindly.

"Well, little Ray made an astounding turn around last night. Or possibly early this morning, hard to tell. He's requesting some breakfast. Or lunch."

"Praise the Lord!" Mrs. Daniels exclaimed. She rang a little hand bell, and a moment later a servant appeared. It was the first time the Doctor noticed how wealthy the family was. "Margret, please tell the cook to make something for Raymond."

"Nothing too heavy," The Doctor warned. "That is, not too much. We don't want to stuff him."

The woman nodded and skipped off, unable to supress her relief at Ray's recovery.

"Thank you, Dr. Smith," Mrs. Daniels said. "Whatever can we do to thank you?"

"Not so fast," he cautioned. "He's not out of the woods yet, so to speak. And as much as I admire Elsie wanting to check on him, I'd keep her away for another few days, just in case."

"Will you stay with us until he's fully healed?"

"Course I will. Now if you'll excuse me, I'd better go and check on that food."

Now that Ray was safe, well, safer, The Doctor began to notice his surroundings. It was nice house, but not terribly large. Downstairs was the parlor, dining room, kitchen, and small porch. In the kitchen there was one cook, and the servant he had seen earlier. Margret told him that she was the maid and kitchen staff, as well as running personal errands for Mrs. Daniels. From this, The Doctor deduced that the Daniels had been rich in the past, but had now fallen in fortunes to the middle class.

On his way to the sick room, The Doctor met a young woman carrying yet another small child.

"My goodness! How many Daniels are there? Every time I turn around, another one of you pops up!"

The woman smiled. "You must be The Doctor. I'm Miss Oswald, the governess and nanny for the Daniels, not one of the children. This is Pearl, the youngest."

"Oh. Hello there Pearl. What a pretty name. By my count that makes four. Thelma, Elsie, Ray, and Pearl. Is that all of them?"

"Yes," Miss Oswald said. "Now if you'll excuse me, Doctor, I'm on my way to take Pearl and Elsie for their daily walk."

"Right. Don't mind me."

They continued on their way.

Raymond was sitting up again, waiting anxiously for his food.

"Oi! What did I tell you about sitting up? Not until tomorrow, alright?"

"If you don't lie down you won't get any breakfast," Thelma threatened.

Raymond lay down without protest, and as soon as he had eaten, he was asleep again.

"Dr. Smith," Thelma finally asked. "Last night, you said he had tuberculosis."

"You heard that?" The Doctor was surprised. He hadn't noticed how close she had been. "That's not what I said. I said, uh, I said he had to be cured fast."

"And he was cured fast. Very fast. Nobody has survived tuberculosis. It's impossible. And you left your bag in a police box. Who are you, doctor?"

The Doctor looked at her solomnly. She was small and had brown curly hair, but she had a very serious face. "How old are you, Thelma? Ten? Eleven?"

"Twelve."

"Well, you're still very mature for your age. Can you keep a secret?"

"As long as it doesn't hurt anyone."

The Doctor grinned. "Good answer. You're a smart girl. I promise it won't hurt anyone."

"Then I promise not to tell."

"Follow me then!"

Thelma, curious, followed The Doctor downstairs, where they met Mrs. Daniels again.

"Mrs. Daniels, since I'm going to be staying here for a few days, I need to go back to my hotel and pick up my belongings. Thelma has graciously offered to help me. May she go?"

"Of course. How is Ray doing?"

"He's eaten his breakfast and is fast asleep. He probably won't need anything, but just in case sit next to him, okay?"

"I will. Thank you doctor."

"So," The Doctor said as they walked back to the Tardis. "You're twelve, and Pearl is two. I met her on the stairs this morning with Miss Oswald. She's a sweet little thing, isn't she?"

"Sometimes," Thelma admitted. "But she still cries a lot."

"She's only two. How old are Elsie and Raymond, then?"

"Elsie is seven, and Ray is four."

"Fantastic! That's just what I thought. I'm getting good, if I do say so myself. Ah, here we are. Thelma Daniels, welcome to the Tardis."

"It's a police box."

"And how do you know that?"

"Because that's what it says on the front. I can read."

"Yes, but the thing is, these police boxes don't show up until the 1960's. So why is there one here?"

"I don't know, why?"

"Because it isn't really a police box! It's just a disguise!"

"What's really inside?" Thelma asked, excited.

"My home. Now, keep an open mind, ok? It's bigger on the inside."

"What does that mean?"

"Take a look," The Doctor said, opening the door.

Thelma gasped and stepped inside. "But…how?"

"It's like the wardrobe in Narnia…oh wait this is 1911. It hasn't been written yet. Uh, do you believe in aliens?"

"You mean like, people from another world?"

"Yep! This is an alien ship. But you mustn't tell anyone. Are you alright?"

"Um…I think so. Can it fly?"

"Oh yes! It can fly all over the earth, in a way, and out into the stars. And it can travel in time."

"But that's impossible!"

"Just a few minutes ago you said that it was impossible for Ray to be cured of tuberculosis. This is how. I just happened to have some pills from the 23rd Century."

"I don't believe you."

"Do you want to see the future?"

"No. I mean…is it dangerous?"

"Is it always this dangerous?" Rose's words echoed in his mind. Thelma was only twelve. He didn't want to drag her into a life threatening situation. But then again…

"Not if we're only there for a second and we don't go far from the Tardis."

"Okay."

The Doctor smiled and put in a relatively safe date. The Tardis wheezed and groaned, and Thelma grabbed onto the railing. When it stopped, she let go and went to the door.

"Careful," The Doctor cautioned. "This is the year 2001, nearly a hundred years in your future. Things have accelerated, and people like to go fast."

They stepped out onto a busy city sidewalk. It was very loud and Thelma covered her ears.

"Where are we?" she yelled.

"Times Square, New York City," The Doctor called back.

Taxis raced by and bright screens flashed in the night. Swarms of people still walked in the square; some had headphones, others talked on their mobiles.

"The people…what's in their ears?" Thelma asked.

"Those are called headphones. They're listening to a new invention, called an iPod. It plays music, like a mini radio, only they get to choose what songs to listen to. The other people are using the telephone, now a small little rectangle. They're called cellphones."

"I…I believe you now," she stuttered.

"Come on, let's go home before we get into trouble."

Thelma nodded numbly and stepped back in the Tardis. She didn't say another word until they were walking back to the house.

"Can we go again some other day? I liked it, that was fun."

"Unfortunately, no," The Doctor said. "It needs to rest a long time between trips," he lied.

Thelma sighed. "We're going to New York City next year," she said.

"Really? Fun. Pop by Times Square and see how things have changed. Are you going for a visit?"

"No, we're going to live there."

"Fantastic place to live! You'll enjoy it."

Three months later…

The morning of April 3rd, 1912, dawned bright and clear, although by mid morning a few clouds had set in. Nevertheless, Mrs. Daniels insisted that the family photo be taken, and that Doctor Smith joined them. The Doctor had lived with the Daniels for the past three months, at his request and the children's insistence. Now they thought of him as family, even more so than Miss Oswald, cook, and Margret.

"But I don't do photos," The Doctor protested over lunch for at least the thousandth time that week.

"Why else did you get that new hair cut?" Mrs. Daniels asked.

"But that wasn't me, that was you!"

"Come on, doctor!" Ray pleaded. "I want you to."

"Please?" Elsie begged.

"For us," Thelma said. "You said yourself you would be leaving soon. Do this for us so we can remember you."

"I think you'll remember me without the photograph."

"Dr. Smith, I insist," Mr. Daniels said in a stern voice.

"Oh, I give up!" The Doctor finally said. "Fine, I'll take the picture with you."

"You have fifteen minutes to get ready," Mrs. Daniels said.

Sighing, The Doctor went up to the spare bedroom, his now that Ray was back in the nursery, and chose a formal suit from his collection of 1900's clothes. Then he joined the family as they walked down to the port. The photographer positioned them on some steps so that you could see the canal in the background. They were only there for about a five minutes.

"There, that wasn't so bad, now was it?" Mrs. Daniels asked.

"No, suppose not," The Doctor said shortly.

Upon their return, Miss Oswald ran out to meet them.

"Mr. Daniels! It's a letter from the shipping company," she explained breathlessly. She had evidently been waiting in some excitement.

Eagerly, Mr. Daniels opened the letter. "Pack your bags everyone!" he announced, uncharacteristically excited. "The Titanic has been completed! We sail on April 10th."

"Wait, you're sailing to New York on the Titanic?" The Doctor asked.

"Yes, isn't it wonderful?" Mrs. Daniels said. "The largest ship in the world and we'll be on it!"

"I can't let you do this," The Doctor said, blocking the door as if to stop them boarding.

"Why not?" Mr. Daniels demanded.

"Because…remember how sometimes I get premonitions or dreams about the future?"

It was a lie he had told them when he had accidentally slipped and told them about the future. It was a ridiculous lie, but they believed it.

"Of course, your dreams from God," Mr. Daniels said, almost mockingly.

"Well the Titanic is doomed. It will hit an iceberg in the early morning of April 15th. Almost all of the people will die."

"That's ludicrous! None of your other dreams have been that big."

"Yes, and that's why I feel so strongly about this. I can't guarantee that you'll be saved. The Titanic is so unprepared for a disaster. You cannot sail on her!"

"How do you know it will sink on this voyage, and not on a second or third voyage?" Mrs. Daniels asked.

"Because I just know," The Doctor said in desperation. "You have to trust me, or I will tie you up and lock you in this house until after it sets sail!"

"Please, Mother, we have to believe him," Thelma said. "He's never been wrong before.

"You can sail on any of the sister ships, the Britannic or the Olympic, but please, not the Titanic!"

Mr. Daniels sighed. "Give us time to think about it."

The Doctor stepped aside and let them into the house, his face still grim. Miss Oswald came up to him and spoke softly.

"They won't go, Doctor," she said. "Don't worry about it."

"How do you know?"

"I've known them longer than you have. You frightened Mr. Daniels, and that takes a lot of doing."

"I won't leave them until they're safe in America."

"You're worried you won't be able to save them," she observed. "You don't want them to die like your people."

He looked at her sharply. "How did you know that?"

Oswald looked thoughtful. "You're not the only one who travels through time," she said.

"Do you know me? Why don't you call me by my proper name, Mr. Smith?"

"Because it's not your name. Neither is Doctor, but that's what everyone calls you. Nobody knows your proper name."

"How do you know so much?" The Doctor asked intently.

"Spoilers," she said, and followed the family into the house.

The Doctor was highly alert all day on April 10th. He did not allow the family to leave the house for anything, though they clearly were not packed and unprepared for a journey. Once the Titanic had unmoored and was some distance away, however, he let them walk out to the docks and watch it sail away.

Mr. Daniels sighed somewhat regretfully. "Well, there it goes. History in the making and we're not there."

"Be thankful," The Doctor said. "You don't want to be a part of that ship's history."

"We're trusting you, Dr. Smith," Mrs. Daniels said. "But it doesn't mean we can't be disappointed."

"Wait five days. Five days, and the news comes in."

During the next five days there was an uneasy silence in the Daniels home. Nothing much was done, except making reservations on another ship due to sail that summer. The Doctor also bought a ticket.

The night of April 14th was a sleepless night for The Doctor. Many nights had been sleepless, but this was the worst. He stared into the fire and saw Gallifrey burn over and over, along with his hatred for the Daleks. He almost wished there was one left, just so he could beat it to death, make it pay for what it had done to him.

Almost.

"11:40 PM," a voice said behind him. It was Miss Oswald. "The Titanic has hit the iceberg."

"I wish I could fly out there," The Doctor said. "Rescue all of them. Humans are so stupid in these days. They won't listen to anyone. That's part of why many weren't saved. They didn't listen, and they're stuck down there as the water is rising. They won't know it until it's too late."

"Maybe some of them won't know at all."

"Doubtful." He leapt out of his chair and began pacing the room. "I can hear the screams. Why can I hear the screams?"

"It's just your imagination," Miss Oswald said soothingly. Then she changed the subject. "Done much traveling?"

"No."

"When they're safe, you should travel again. It will help you, I promise." The clock struck midnight; The Doctor didn't reply. He was mentally wishing Charlotte a happy birthday. "I'm going to bed. It's late. See you in the morning, Doctor."

At 2:15 AM, Thelma woke up in a cold sweat and came downstairs. The Doctor was still awake, next to a dwindling fire.

"Go back to bed, Thelma," he said.

"I had a nightmare. What's happening with the Titanic? Do you know?"

"2:16. It's begun sinking really fast. In a few minutes it will be gone. No one will see it again until 1985."

"If we had been on that ship, would we have died?"

"I don't know. That's why I didn't let you go."

"But you have the Tardis. Wouldn't you have saved us?"

"I couldn't go to the Titanic if I wanted to. I went there in the past. A version of myself is on the ship right now, fighting a villain with my friends. Even if I had time, I wouldn't have known you back then." He looked back at the clock. "2:20 AM. It's gone now."

Thelma gasped, trying not to cry. "We knew people on that ship."

"I know. I'm sorry. Come here, sit down."

He helped Thelma to a chair, then stoked the fire back into a blaze.

"Have you been awake the whole time?" she asked.

"I haven't slept all night. Too busy thinking."

"About the Titanic?"

"Yes. And my home."

"Gallifrey. Is it really in Ireland?"

"No. Gallifrey was a planet, far far away from here. But it's gone now. Like the Titanic."

They sat in silence for a long time. When Thelma finally fell back asleep, The Doctor carried her back to the nursery and laid her in bed next to Elsie. Nothing more happened till morning. At breakfast Margret delivered the newspaper, The Southern Daily Echo.

"Mr. Daniels, the Titanic foundered, whatever that means, but there are no casualties."

Mr. Daniels eyed The Doctor. "The reports are wrong," The Doctor said.

Throughout the day various rumors and reports were spread, all conflicting. Southampton hoped and prayed for the best. Over 700 people from their town were on board. It was almost a week before anyone truly knew what happened, and when it did, the people were stunned. Only 200 of their people were saved. 500 were lost.

Despite the grief and the fear, the Daniels continued with The Doctor's plan and packed their belongings. Many of their friends begged them not to go, but again they trusted their new friend. Two months after the Titanic sank, they reached New York City safely.

"Right," The Doctor said. "Now that you are all on safe ground, it's time to say goodbye."

"Must you?" Mrs. Daniels asked. "I must admit, Dr. Smith, we've all grown quite fond of you. I wish you would stay longer."

"Sadly, Mrs. Daniels, I cannot grant that wish. It's time for me to leave."

"Will you come and visit us again?" Thelma asked hopefully.

"I don't know. Hope so, but it's pretty unlikely."

Thelma leapt into his arms and hugged him tightly. He was surprised at first, but then hugged her back.

"I'll miss you," Elsie said, tugging on his leather jacket.

The Doctor put Thelma down and knelt so he could look Elsie in the eye. "I'll miss you, too. Be good to your brother now, you hear? I don't care if he says he wants to know what it was like for the Egyptian mummies, no more burying."

"Okay," Elsie said, disappointed.

"What?" Mrs. Daniels exclaimed.

"Nothing!" The Doctor said quickly, moving on to Ray. "Goodbye little soldier. Try not to get sick again."

"I won't," Raymond said, saluting.

He smiled, even though he didn't usually like salutes, and rose to face the three adults. Mrs. Daniels put out her hand. Although she desperately wanted to hug him, etiquette didn't allow it.

"Thank you Doctor Smith. For everything."

"No problem, Mrs. Daniels. Thank you for letting me stay with you. It was much appreciated. Mr. Daniels."

Mr. Daniels also shook The Doctor's hand. Finally, he turned to Miss Oswald, the only servant who had accompanied them.

"Take care of them, Miss Oswald," The Doctor said seriously.

"I won't leave them as long as I live," Miss Oswald whispered. Although in her heart, she knew that now The Doctor was leaving, she might not live much longer.

"See ya round," The Doctor said.