Imagine a cul-de-sac. The handful of houses dotted around in a circle. They are uniquely shaped, but the same ideas appear in all. The same top floors for some, the same bottom floor for others. Maybe the garages look exact on the outside. Two houses have a large tree between them, enough for kids to climb between.
The cul-de-sac road itself is massive. Kids played often here. Games of soccer played between families. Or kids going as fast as possible on bikes, fighting with BB guns or foam bullets. Grass stains and scraped knees, hair soaked from the heat and the water balloon fights.
Parents hardly cared. Summer's a few weeks away. Let the kids get started whenever they please. It's the south, and summers get bad down there.
It's all very standard. Uniform. Picturesque. Ideal.
Two parents began their escape from their homes. Summer was close, yes, but not quite here. Work still needed to be done. They rushed out of their two story house.
The man was a big, tall man. The kind of man you looked at to say "he's not the Rock, but he COULD be." His dark brown eyes saw only his car as he walked down his driveway.
His wife was at least two feet shorter than him on a good day. Her sunshine blonde hair was perfectly cut to fall on her shoulders. She pulled her phone down, turning to her eldest son.
"Stay safe. Don't leave your brother in front of cartoons all day. Make sure you all eat- the credit card is on the counter. I don't want y'all just eating candy."
"Mom, we're gonna be fine." The teenager puffed up his chest. His shoulders squared back, it made him resemble his father but the watery blue eyes were all his mother. "I'm in charge."
His mom tilted her head, her matching blue eyes staring flatly.
The boy lost all his posture. His arms dropped dramatically and with a heavy grunt. "Mom please no! She's bad at being in charge."
"She's still your big sister, Derek, so she's in charge."
"But she's not even here today! She goes to work at that- that place today." Derek whispered.
His mother tightened her face. Derek knew he won.
Mr and Mrs Spencer wanted the best for their four children. For them to be the leaders of their generation, and to be kind hearted. They were all very smart- apparently- and their boys handled responsibility well. Their daughter was different.
She's no idiot. She's top in her class now, all of them. There's talk of her skipping a grade next year. The Spencers were against it. The daughter went leaps and bounds in her education after the January Incident.
It still rankled Mrs Spencer. It's been four months and it still sits very poorly in her heart. Her daughter hid secrets for so long, secrets about herself that any parent should have known. Her daughter had responsibility thrown at her, both the new job and something extra. She accepted it without thinking about how her family would react.
She wanted responsibility like that? Then she had to pay the consequences. She needs time to focus on her family. Her real family.
"She promised to work from home. Derek, I don't have time. Just tell her we're gone. Okay? So she knows." Mrs Spencer walked off to her car.
Derek groaned as his mom drove off. It's not fair. He stormed off to find his sister.
She moved out of her room after the whole 'debacle' in January. Dad loved getting his office back. The whole house woke up to suddenly having a shed in the backyard, built by their sister and somehow with its own generator. She built it overnight.
It made zero sense. She's stupid. She couldn't do basic algebra. How can she build stuff like this? Derek knows she's cheating, he just doesn't know how yet.
He pounded on the shed door. "Morgan! Wake up! Mom and Dad said you gotta be in the house to watch us."
The shed door yanked open. Derek stumbled, expecting an open door. A hand grabbed his arm, pushing him back to standing.
Morgan glared amber eyes at her brother. She made sure her brother stood properly before covering his mouth. "Shut up." She whispered through clenched teeth. "She's still sleeping."
Derek rolled his eyes. Morgan tightened her hand. She looked him over, staring at his shirt before going back to glaring at him.
"I know I'm in charge. Go back inside, I'll see you at lunch." Morgan let go of his face.
Derek wasn't so easily convinced. "Mom said you gotta be in the house."
"No. You're the only one awake. Like I said, she's still sleeping."
"How do you know that?" Derek glared, jaw tightening. "You aren't even inside."
"Because it's a teacher's work day." Morgan replied. "We get the day off. Terrance is still asleep cause he stayed up late playing video games. Junior is never up before nine if he can help it. You woke up early to make sure mom and dad picked you- even wore your tenth Doctor shirt that looks like a suit to give them a better impression of you."
Derek wanted to growl. See? See?! Morgan was never this smart before. It's the worst. "Well you still gotta be inside."
"Lilac's here." Morgan nodded back into the tiny shed. "So I'm staying here with my kid."
"There's no way." Derek scoffed. "I'll tell Mom."
Morgan glared- sharper. The hair on his neck stood up. A sudden wave of tension hit him. He didn't let her see it, but that look rattled him.
"You'll tattle?" She leaned forward. Derek leaned back. Open air greeted him. Her shed was still cast in shadows. "Seriously? That's the best you can do? Tattle?"
Derek gulped. "Yeah? It- Mom'll be mad."
Morgan started tapping her finger on the shed door. "I have stuff to do today. I can't watch y'all too."
"Okay. Then just make me in charge." Derek offered.
She snorted. "No. Go back inside."
"But-"
"No."
"Hey-"
"Go." She warned.
"You're not gonna work!" Derek accused. "You're just gonna go someplace!"
Morgan tapped faster.
Derek grinned, glad his guess was right. "Wow. Really? Gonna leave again? Are you ever really here?"
"I was here for two months." She argued.
"Wow. You stayed with your living family for two months. What a chore." Derek taunted.
Her face tightened again. But in a bad way, like she was trying to force it to relax. She tried slamming the door shut. Derek shoved it back.
"Shut-"
"Where are you going?" Derek asked. He smirked. "So I can tell mom."
She grinned smugly at him. She's mocking his own smile. If he was allowed to use that kind of language, he'd say very mean things about his sister. "Probably Marvel. Again. Meeting superheroes."
"As the sidekick, or the villain?"
"It's very important work. So tell me-" Morgan glanced at his shirt again. "What's it gonna take to make you leave?"
Derek had an idea.
==POMW==
The Doctor tried the door again. It shocked his hand again. He brought out his sonic. It's deadlocked.
She deadlocked the door? Seriously? Just to get away from him? That's a bit of an overreaction. He hadn't even done anything.
(He never told her about Freddie-)
The Doctor slid down the stairs. Correction, the stairs vanished into a slide. He hit the concrete sidewalk with a frustrated groan.
If he wasn't so frustrated, he'd be impressed. The HAVEN was made to keep people safe. It welcomed and lured in scared people. Of course security measures existed to keep out the bad. The Doctor expected GARTH to start scolding him next.
She wanted time. And space. The Doctor could definitely give them to her. But she wanted it without him. That's harder for the Doctor.
He could cheat.
He walked back to the TARDIS. The cold, empty TARDIS. No Rose, no Martha, no Donna, no Terra, not even a Mickey. She was empty of any companions. He was alone again.
"WAIT!"
The Doctor whirled around.
Terra Johnson swung the HAVEN door open.
The stairs returned in time for her to skip down them, Her curly ginger hair blew and bounced with every step of her pink boots. She spun her dress around. The same pink, white, and blue creation she stitched together herself. It was very Sixth Incarnation of her. Her TARDIS blue bowtie was homemade as well.
He spotted her TARDIS key on its usual chain, tucked into her dress out of sight. He knew other things were on that necklace, he just never saw them.
"Wait! Wait!" Terra rushed at him, skidding to a stop. "See? Came back! Just like I said."
He stared at her. "Pardon?"
"Oh, no, pardon me. I reacted really poorly. When grieved, I often self-isolate. Donna apparently yells and rants. You- well we both know what you're like. I needed time to sort myself out from the you parts. I already told you this, didn't I?"
She spoke just the same. That's a good sign. "You did, yeah, but wait- why are you back? You just said-"
"Doc Brown, come on. You saw it last time." Terra said. She leaned forward, staring into his eyes. "See it again."
Ah. Of course. She skipped ahead first. He was never meant to notice her absence.
He stared at her again. He did see it, a tiny fleck in her eyes. Age. Not just age, maturity. She grew up again. Without him. Because of him? He knows the answer is yes, he just can't stand to hear it.
"There we go!" She perked up, sliding her hands to her hips and standing on her tiptoes. "Now you meet the boys."
The Doctor frowned. "The- the what?"
Terra turned back to the HAVEN. The door was still wide open. "BOYS!"
The Doctor looked back at the HAVEN. Two boys walked out. They stared at him, and he stared back. "What?"
"Boys! Ready for an adventure?"
"Yeah!"
"What?"
==POMW==
Sometimes, I have the best ideas. The best ways of avoiding problems and such things.
My two brothers needed minding. The Doctor needed me (and companions) again. I wanted to see the TARDIS. It all works out for everyone.
I only brought two of my younger brothers. Lilac agreed to watch her youngest uncle for us. Junior loved her too. They were handled, and my brothers would bother me the least cause they're meeting their favorite.
"That's-" Derek gawked.
"-him." Terrance's jaw continued to drop.
"The Doctor, yep." I ruffled the twelve year old's short blond hair.
Derek insisted Terrance come too. He claimed it's so I watch them both, but I know it's 'cause he thinks Terrance will be an impartial viewer. That way, when he tattles anyway, he has a character witness against me.
He's very obvious. Darcy tried that trick dozens of times. She got better over time at getting me in trouble. Derek has a long way to go. Basically, he's a dumbass. Not a cool funny dumbass with a heart of gold, he's just a dumbass. Meeting the Doctor will change that. Hopefully. Maybe. It changed Mickey, okay?!
Terrance beamed up at me. It's disturbing that they look normal here. Both of them, exactly the same. Derek with the black hair, blue eyes. Terrance, blond and matching blue eyes. It's disgusting. They should get disguises. Disguises are better. My brothers needed to learn disguises.
Yes, he is Terrance. My name is Terra. I refuse to think about what that means to me. To my life. It's no big deal. I named myself after a Teen Titan, not my annoying nerd of a baby brother.
"You really know him?" Derek asked. "It wasn't a joke?"
I whacked his arm. He whined, rubbing his arm. "Shut up. Why would I lie to you guys about him?"
Derek finally seemed to notice me. Or, how different I looked in this place. "You're ginger." He pointed out.
"So ginger." I laughed to cover up his blunder. This is gonna be a lot of work. But worth it, for pulling one over on Derek. Then, I gasped. "You need to see the TARDIS! Come on, come on. Time to see the box!"
"The box?" Derek gawked.
"The box."
"The TARDIS?!" Terrance stopped waiting for us to confirm. He ran to the blue box in the middle of the road. "This is so cool!" Derek chased after him.
I turned to him, confused. "Are you unlocking it, or am I snapping my fingers?"
"Now hold on, Terra, we need to talk about this." The Doctor tried to pull me back and away.
"So me? Okay." I held my hand up.
He pushed it down. I raised an eyebrow at him. He paused, but then quickly pulled his hand back. "We can talk in the TARDIS."
I smiled. My fingers clicked. The doors swung open.
The boys gasped loudly, rushing inside. I chuckled, running after them. The Doctor joined us.
"It's-" Derek spun around, trying to truly see everything in it. "It's-"
"Wow." Terrance stumbled on the ramp. He didn't catch himself in time. He sprawled on the floor, clinging onto the handrails. "I'm- I'm-"
I held out my hand. He stared at me, then beamed. He grabbed my hand so I pulled him to his feet. The Doctor behind me stayed hesitant, sure, but he was smiling now. Watching people see his TARDIS for the first time always made him giddy.
And yes, I robbed him of that completely by accident. The TARDIS opened her doors to me. She normally should be locked without us around. Yet when I met her for the first time, her doors opened. She let me in.
"Boys. Welcome to the TARDIS." I replied, cheerful.
The boys continued to laugh and gawk. They kept knocking each other on the arms, hyping each other up over and over again.
The Doctor walked around the boys. I ushered them out of his way. The Doctor kept switching his gaze from the boys to me. His suspicions were still very high. He never liked boys, this is true, but that just helps me again. He won't be too disappointed when they leave. He gets to see me, the boys get a life changing adventure, and I get work done.
Everyone wins.
"Yes, yes, it's-" I tried.
"Bigger-" Derek nodded.
"-inside." Terrance pointed up at the glowing console. "It's so cool."
His mind reached out to mine. A tingling feeling that startled me. After another long gap, inviting another person in my head freaked me out. The last person that forced themselves into my head was a literal demon. That's not something I like revisiting. Supernatural, I'll revisit as often as I please. Demonic possession? No thanks.
But I let him in. My suspicions and things could be set aside, for his sake. It's all for the greater good of my life.
'Yes?'
'Americans. Should've known you'd invite Americans.'
'Yep. Can guarantee these two don't have guns, and only plan to own guns in the event of a zombie outbreak.'
'Pretty specific.'
'They explained it in great detail. It's an effective strategy.'
'Know that for a fact, do you?' He was amused, his mind's smile wide and nearly giggling.
'Yes.'
'Who are they?' The Doctor asked.
My jaw clenched. "Boys. As you and I know well by now, it is bigger on the inside. What else is it?"
Derek blinked at me. "Blue."
I blinked back at him. Mom assured me I'm related to them, but she also claimed I looked good in purple. She's been known to lie. Maybe I really am adopted...
The Doctor snorted, loudly. 'Wow.'
The TARDIS hummed behind me. She's still very judgmental and sassy. I love it.
'Where did you pick them up, again?'
"You-" I pointed at Terrance. "-please?"
Terrance shrugged. He searched the room again, before looking at the console. "A ship."
"Time machine!" Derek blurted. "It's a time machine."
"Very good." I patted his head, like I would've done for Mickey. "A time machine. So we're gonna go backward-"
"I wanna go forward." Derek tried.
Damn, okay, fine. He's gonna play it like that. Fine. "Figured you couldn't handle the past."
He tensed. He stood up, still a full two inches shorter than me. "What?"
"Nothing! Just. The past is a lot to handle, for people." I excused, idly kicking my boot on the metal grating. "Thought you could handle it but if you're so sure you can't. We can visit the future-"
"No. I can handle it." Derek raised his shoulders. A big tough boy, if he weren't my brother this'd be adorable. "Let's go to the past."
"You drive a hard bargain, sir, okay!" I cheered for him.
'Nicely done.'
'He's always been bad at it.' I snorted.
'Always?'
I carried on with my earlier speech. "So we're gonna go backwards, which means you need backwards disguises."
Terrance grimaced. "I hate fancy clothes."
"I can make it work." I lifted him up. "Come on. Closet time." Grabbing Derek, I started walking them down to the back.
"Terra." The Doctor sat up. He slid his hand in his coat pocket, toying with the sonic inside. He glanced between the boys.
Oh.
Yes.
"This is Kevin-" I pointed at Derek. "And this is-"
"I'm not Kevin." Derek grimaced, disgusted.
This boy will die by my hand. "-his brother, Aaron."
The Doctor raised an eyebrow. "Kevin and Aaron?"
"Yes." I nodded.
"No, it's-" Derek tried.
I slapped my hand over his mouth. Muffled complaints slipped. He tried to pry my hand off his mouth. I gripped tighter, leading him back. Grabbing Terrance, he joined us.
"Sorry, gotta get them changed!" I dragged the boys into the TARDIS hallways.
The boys quieted down at seeing the even larger TARDIS. The hallways are beautiful here, no doubt. It's another thing I hadn't realized I missed.
Then I smacked them both with a Gibbs.
"Ow!" They complained.
"Stupid boys!" I hissed. "Stupid!"
"Hey!" Derek whined. "That hurt!"
"You're the one that went stupid!" I scolded. "I'm in charge, remember? You can't use your real names here. Ever."
"But you didn't say we'd be Kevin and Aaron."
"I did! I said you're Kevin and Aaron, from the Bible Belt of America. Any further details need to be dismissed. Real details get everyone murdered! Okay?! You, or the innocent person actually living at the fake address!"
Derek grimaced. "I want to be Aaron."
It's so hard not to glare at him. "You flipped a coin. Remember? He called it. He's Aaron."
Terrance preened. "You're Kevin."
Derek continued to grimace. "Still. Can't you just say we're your brothers? Like the truth?"
I frowned. "Derek. I am a Time Lord. You are human."
Derek gawked. Terrance did too. "What. You? A Time Lord?"
"Yeah, double heartbeat and everything." I tapped my chest.
"Whoa! So cool. Have you regenerated?" Terrance asked, grinning wide and excited. It's the only cool trick he knows Time Lords can do. Sure, there's a lot of other things, but this is the big one. "And that's why you're ginger?"
"Yes."
Pain. Pain. Heartbreak and pain. They stared at me with such awe and concern and fear. They wanted me to be safe. They died wanting that, and I know they wanted that.
Heat. Fire. Spreading on my arms and body. My throat aching as I screamed. Have to save them. Love them to bits. I need to save them.
"Twice." I stated. "Go to the closet. It's-" The TARDIS sent me to new directions. Great, glad she moved it for us. "-two lefts away. It's the third door on the right. The second door is the bathroom."
"Aren't you gonna change too?" Terrance asked.
"No. This dress is fine."
"Fine?" Derek looked me over. "Sure."
I narrowed my eyes on him. He knows nothing about fashion. "It's perfect for any time period."
"Dude, come on." Terrance knocked his brother's arm. He started walking down the hall. Derek glared at me once before following after him.
I went back to the console room. The Doctor was clearly still frustrated.
"Sorry." I started off apologetic and downcast. Sympathetic, even. I needed this to work. My ego can take a backseat so I can appeal to the Doctor. He needed to believe in this. "It- this has been a weird day. It all happened so fast so I- I'm sorry."
His sternness did seem to melt at that. "Can you tell me who they are?" The Doctor asked.
I shook my head.
He frowned. "Terra-"
"You trusted me and you knew nothing." I reminded him. "All my companions- you trusted them and you knew nothing about them."
"It's not immediate. And I'm still not sure about-"
"Kevin and Aaron are good kids." I stepped closer to the console, gripping the sides while looking up at the Doctor. I'm their sister so I can never admit this stuff out loud near them. There's goodness deep down. They just need a jump start, I swear. "I've known them a long time, Doc Brown, a really long time. Just one adventure, that's all I'm asking. Please."
The Doctor glanced back at the hallway. He frowned, crossing his arms and leaning his hips on the console. "How long were you gone this time?"
He's asking from Journey's End, but that hardly counts. I'm 198, and he barely knew me at 192.
"14 years, 2 months, 3 days." I answered. "Do you need hours too?"
The Doctor creased his eyebrows. "Not exact- How long have you known them?"
"14 years." I answered. "Well, Kevin is 14. Aaron is 12."
"How long exactly?"
I raised my own eyebrows. This is something that happened a lot with Darcy. People saw us together, and made horrible assumptions. It's made both of us sick on occasion, or giggle because of how stupid it was. "Do you think I'm dating him?"
"That-"
We're from the South but not that part of the south! "I knew that boy when he was in diapers. If I was dating him, I'd be the problem, not him."
Yes Doctor, I am judging you. But I'm also judging River because she knows you knew her when she was in diapers and still, seduction. River Song I judge you so much. Seriously. I have a picture of him holding Baby You. Why are you dating him?! Your relationship is cute, whatever, but him?! I hate this
"I don't think you're dating a fourteen year old boy!"
"Thank you!" I perked up. "Glad we cleared that up."
He rolled his eyes. Suddenly, I had the impression nothing was cleared up and I got excited for nothing. "You told them stories about me? Us?"
I nodded. "They liked our Christmases the best." Last year, we all watched it together. Oswin was in it.
(Clara Oswin Oswald- I cried all night when she died. Then I saw her again, standing over her own grave. It's such a problem.
Next week we find out the big deal. The season finale of season 7 comes out. It's gonna be fucking mental.)
The Doctor smiled, fondly and relieved. "Those were good, yeah. What's their favorite?"
Today
"Probably today, honestly, when we're done." I replied. "They want an adventure with you. It's all they've talked about for ages."
"How did you meet them?" The Doctor asked. "Their parents, I mean? Are they Haven residents?"
"Yes." A very good excuse. The perfect excuse. The very excuse I came up with this morning. "I can't tell you more. Security stuff, sorry. For their sake, and their family. Their mom asked me to babysit."
The Doctor laughed. "Universe's best babysitter."
I whacked his arm. He laughed again. "Exactly. So let's show them the past, okay? 'Cause their tiny little brains cannot handle the future."
"Alright. One trip to the past to change two American teenagers." The Doctor grinned. He pushed the computer towards me. "When are we taking them?"
I blinked. Why was he giving it to me-?
Oh right! Yes! I can read Gallifreyan now. That's new for me. I forgot I could do that.
"Let's get the boys and go!" I told the TARDIS.
The plan is going so smoothly. The TARDIS hummed, though, as if disagreeing.
==POMW==
She landed. The boys stumbled out of the blue box into the snow. As a person, it's very tragic and sad and they need attention. As an older sister, hahaha they ate shit.
I stepped over them to reach the ground. Solid, I reached my hands down to them. Terrance grabbed my arm to happily be lifted up. The Doctor came by for Derek.
"First flight. It's always bumpy." The Doctor cheered.
"He failed his driver's test."
"Terra's never taken it."
"He'll never give it to me."
Derek brushed himself off. I ruffled the last bit of snow from Terrance's head. They dressed in off white button ups, brown overall pants, and vests. Derek added an era appropriate hat which didn't suit him like he clearly thought it did. I'm honored they put this much effort into their clothes.
I am joking. The TARDIS definitely made sure those were the only options. I asked. She wants everyone except the Doctor to be fashionable, and we agree on that.
"You're too young to drive." Derek argued.
I smiled, carefully, threateningly.
"She can take the test when she's older." The Doctor patted my shoulder. "Hopefully you'll drive the TARDIS better than you drive a stick."
"A giant wasp was chasing me- I was driving normally." I countered. Terrance gawked at me. "Let's go see snow!"
The boys let me drag them out of the alleyway. It led to a wide open courtyard of people. The upcoming holiday had everyone excited. People wandered around with friends, kids rushed by to play, vendors called out about their wares.
I took a big breath in. The smells of the era hit me. Thankfully, the fresh snow helped cover the worst of it.
"Is this-" Derek held out his hand. Snow pooled in his hand, he crunched it together.
Terrance grinned, dancing on the balls of his feet. "Is it-?!"
"Christmas!" I cheered. He was probably about to ask which episode it was.
The Doctor gestured to a nearby child. "You there, boy. What day is this?"
"Christmas Eve, sir." The boy answered.
"What year?" The Doctor asked.
The boy tilted his head. "You thick or something?"
My brothers and I giggled. I snuck around the nearest cart, carefully scooping something in my hand. The vendor was none the wiser. "He is."
"Oi. Just answer the question."
"Year of our Lord 1851, sir." The little boy answered.
"Right. Nice year." The Doctor remarked. "Bit dull."
I slipped the boy the food. He smiled, nodding thankfully at me. "If you brought me to Charles Dickens again-"
"That wasn't on purpose." The Doctor excused. "And you were the one driving."
"I just put in the directions. You did the actual driving."
"You met Charles Dickens?" Terrance asked.
I patted his head. "He called me a-"
"Doctor!"
The Doctor and I both snapped our heads over.
"What did you do?" I searched for Rosita. Even in my rewatch, it's unclear her exact direction right now.
"Doctor!"
"Who, me?" The Doctor beamed.
"There!" Derek pointed off.
"Good lad!" The Doctor ran after her.
"Boys, time to run!" I yelled at them. "Stay close!"
"Wait-" Derek tried.
Too slow, I was already gone.
We ran. Again. Together. Running feels so much better now. I laughed, giddy. Elation swept through me. It's a kind of joy that makes you feel like a kid. The Doctor laughed too. The laughter helped the boys follow us.
Rosita backed away from a large door. She stared, frightened. Loud thumps came from the door again and again.
I grabbed her arms, guiding her back. The Doctor took place in front of us.
"That's it, we got ya!" I assured her. "Let's stand back."
"What have we got here?" The Doctor stepped closer. A loud bang came from the doors. The large doors try to open, but fail every time. "Oo, okay. I've got it."
"That's gonna be so fun!" I laughed, giddy. The boys found us by then. Both panted, but stayed upright.
"Whatever's behind that door, I think you should get out of here." The Doctor advised. "Take those boys with you."
Rosita looked back up the alleyway. I stood next to the boys, ready to push them into the snow. For their safety, obviously. "Doctor!"
"No, no. I'm standing right here. Hello." The Doctor waved a hand at her.
Rosita grimaced. "Don't be stupid. Who are you?"
"I'm the Doctor." The Doctor replied.
Rosita just stared, only more confused and angry. "Doctor who?"
"Yes!" I giggled. The boys did too. "The Doctor!"
Rosita shook her head at me. "Well, there can't be two of him." She spotted something over my shoulder, down the alleyway. "Where the hell have you been?"
The man skidded to a halt in front of the Doctor, in front of the door. He dressed much the same as the Doctor, only his coat was more yellow and his shirt more red. Even his tie was a bright yellow thing, instead of the Doctor's usual dark browns and dark blues. It's a contrast. His hair was the same brown, only cut flat on his head.
"Right then. Don't worry. Stand back." Jackson advised. "What have we got here then?"
"Hold on, hold on. Who are you?" The Doctor asked.
Derek hit my arm. He and Terrance were jittering with excitement, beaming wide as a sunset. Terrance had the same giddiness. Again, this was their very favorite episode.
"I'm the Doctor." Jackson Lake proudly declared. "Simply, the Doctor. The one, the only and the best. Rosita, give me the sonic screwdriver."
Rosita handed him a screwdriver.
I gawked. Excuse you, a proper companion uses it anyway.
"The what?" The Doctor asked.
"Precious?"
"Now quickly, get back to the TARDIS!" Jackson instructed.
The Doctor continued to freak out. "Back to the what?"
"If you could stand back, sir. This is a job for a Time Lord." Jackson told him again.
"Job for a what lord?" The Doctor just continued to panic and fret. It's honestly hilarious.
The doors swung open. A large, gorilla-like animal ran out of the building. It wore a Cyberman helmet on its face.
"Oh, that's different." The Doctor mused.
"Oh, that's new." Jackson mused.
The two men aimed their sonics at the Cyber. "Allons-y!"
The Cyber-animal rushed out of the building. It leapt onto the wall, climbing up the bricks and ledges.
Screwdriver still aimed at the Cyber, Jackson followed the creature. I kept the boys behind me. They struggled to obey. They leaned over my arms, trying to get a good image of the creature.
"I've been hunting this beast for a good fortnight. Now step back, sir." Jackson advised.
"Some sort of primitive conversion, like they took the brain of a cat or a dog." The Doctor remarked.
"I was gonna say gorilla." I offered.
"Well, talking's all very well." Jackson Lake turned. He paused, staring at Rosita. No, staring behind Rosita. At me. "Terra?"
"Doctor?" Rosita held up the rope. "Who's-"
"Terra!" Jackson rushed over to me for a hug.
I did a full body flinch away. "No touchy! No touchy!"
Derek groaned. "You're like that here too?"
"Shut up!"
The Cyber-gorilla roared.
Lake took the rope from Rosita. He grinned at me, tying it in a loop. "Watch and learn." He sent the lasso flying. It captured the creature.
I snorted, quickly covering it up.
"You're not impressed?" Lake asked, puffing up his chest.
I contained myself. "No usually, no."
"She's got impossible standards." The Doctor confirmed.
"Pray tell, what have I missed this time?" Jackson asked.
The Cyber-Gorilla continued to climb, and even escaped into the building.
"You didn't tie the rope to anything else." I reminded him.
Jackson looked at me in confusion, for a single moment. He frowned, confused as any Doctor whenever I gave hints. The confusion didn't last long. The rope tugged. It dragged Jackson up and away, onto the building. The Cyber-Gorilla climbed up the walls towards the highest floor.
"No he didn't." The Doctor mused.
"I might be in a little bit of trouble." Jackson called back to us.
"Nothing changes." The Doctor rushed to the rope. "I've got you!"
"What are you doing?!" I scolded.
The rope dragged further. The Doctor went up with Jackson.
I groaned, face palming.
"You idiots!" Rosita scolded.
I walked over to the nearby ax.
"What are you doing?" Terrance asked.
I hoisted the ax up. "Saving his- saving him. Again." As I walked to the building, ignoring the screams of the men, I turned to Rosita. "Hey, Rosita? Keep these two in line."
"Hey!" Derek complained.
Without waiting, I started running. The door to the building was nearby. Throwing a knife at the rope could've gotten Jackson hurt, falling from the current height. It made more sense to wait for them to get dragged across the floor. That, and I get an ax. Everybody wins!
The stairs were a fun climb. It reminded me of walking the stairs with Nine, teasing and joking about his age and mine. Or being on the stairs with Ten as the Racnoss drowned. That shouldn't be a fond memory, but all I can think about is 'it's got pockets!' so it makes me smile.
Sounds came from below me. It's not a big leap to say Rosita and the boys are chasing me. I never expected them to stay downstairs. They just need to be in line.
The screams gave me direction. I reached the top floor, rushing over to them. The Cyber Gorilla leapt out of the window. I held the ax back, throwing it forward as best I could.
The ax landed.
The rope was cut. Right before it would've been a problem. Jackson skidded to a halt in front of it, and the Doctor nearly tumbled into him.
I skipped over to the ax. Jackson gawked at me. The Doctor sat up, brushing his hair back to normal. Rosita and the boys joined me. The ax was dug into the concrete, loose rope beside it.
"Good throw." The Doctor praised.
"I practiced!" Darcy was always so determined to get better at knife throwing. She wanted to be perfect. 'Beware the one who has done the same kick 10,000 times', and all that. She wanted to throw bigger things too, and decided to throw axes. Sisterly competition quickly came from it. She was still a hundred times better than me, and she's no longer around to hear me say that.
The Doctor and Jackson exchanged a look. Then, they groaned and moaned in pain at being dragged across the floor.
As a person, I wanna feel bad that they were hurt. As the Doctor's friend, haha he ate shit.
Derek watched as I hoisted the ax back up. An unsure, cautious look in his blue eyes.
==POMW==
The men still giggled as they descended the staircase. I twisted and turned the ax, thinking about ways of upkeep and storage. The boys just watched, beaming with excitement from being in their favorite episode of their favorite show.
There's probably room in a weapon vault. It can't be allowed for the general public. Lilac might get a kick out of the story when she's older. For now, it's just a thing.
The doctor giggled as he reached the snow. I jumped down the last of the stairs. Rosita put her hands on her hips, glaring at the two giggling men.
Derek started walking over to me, before stepping back. He blocked Terrance from getting any closer. The ax was a very dangerous weapon. Good on them for being safe.
"Well, I'm glad you think it's so funny. You're mad. The lot of you." Rosita scolded. That got my attention. She's looping me in on this? That's insane. "You could've got killed."
"That'd only annoy them." I remarked. Looking up from the ax, I tucked it away in my Bag. "Death is only a construct."
"Don't you go encouraging them!" Rosita scolded. "You threw that all over the bloody place!"
"I threw it at the rope."
"You might've missed."
"But evidently she did not." Jackson stood up, straightening out his coat. He beamed at Rosita, before suddenly turning to me. "Oh, I should introduce Rosita. My faithful companion. Always telling me off, thought you'd like that."
I scrunched up my eyebrows. He's not the Doctor. Why's he pretending to be so- ooooh wait. He thinks he's the Doctor. He genuinely thinks that, and so he genuinely believes we're friends. By the Author, this poor man. Time to humor him. "I do like it, yes."
"Wait, she's not Terra?" The Doctor asked.
I snorted. "Doc Brown, I wouldn't have screamed for help. I'd've fought it myself."
The Doctor considered this, and decided I was right. "Yes, well. It's a good name, by the way. Rosita. Hello, Rosita."
"Yes! Hello. Thank you for watching the boys."
Rosita glared at Jackson. "Well who's she?"
"Rosita, meet Terra Johnson. The last living Time Lady." Jackson introduced. I pulled a large Christmas top hat from my Bag, tipping it at Rosita.
Her opinion of me instantly flipped around. Her eyes widened, gawking at me like I was a story coming to life.
I waved my fingers. "Hiya Rosita!" The hat went back in the Bag.
She shook herself out of her stupor. "T-the traps! I'll have to dismantle the traps."
"Ooo, no! Traps are so good!"
"They were! All for nothing!"
"Drat!"
"And we've only got twenty minutes till the funeral!" Rosita pointed a warning finger at Jackson. "Don't forget! Then back to the TARDIS, right?"
Hahaha, 'don't forget'. 'Cause he has amnesia! Rosita is so funny.
I'm not in love, shut up.
Jackson grunted, rubbing at his sore arms and back. The Doctor already got over his aches and pains. It's all just more and more points against Jackson.
"Funeral?" The Doctor pointedly didn't glance at me.
"Oh, long story. Not my own, not yet." Jackson said.
"Or mine?" I asked.
Jackson shook his head. He winced. "Oh, I'm not as young as I was."
"Well, not as young as you were when you were me." The Doctor commented. He glanced at the boys. 'Glad you explained regeneration.'
'So am I.'
"When I was who?" Jackson asked.
"You really don't recognize me?" The Doctor asked.
Jackson was now staring at the Doctor, more concerned and confused than his usual delight. "Terra, who is he?"
'Terra, could you read his mind?'
'I couldn't read your fifth self when he was here.'
'Yes. Well then.'
"More on that, where have you been?" Jackson asked.
I tilted my head. Then, I pointed at the boys.
Jackson looked at them. His eyes widened. "Oh! Yes. Good. The boys. What were their names again?"
Derek was suddenly very happy to be noticed. "I'm-"
"He's Kevin. I'm Aaron." Terrance blurted. He smiled at me, hesitantly asking for praise. I gave him a thumbs up. He smirked, smug.
I patted Jackson on the shoulder. "You're just as stupid. I'm sorry."
He only laughed. "Yes, I suppose I am."
Derek and Terrance exchanged a look. Terrance stepped up. "Uhh- what?"
"He's the Doctor." The Doctor explained. "The next Doctor. Or the next but one?" He turned to Jackson, looking for any kind of confirmation. "A future Doctor anyway. No, no, don't tell me how it happened. Although, I hope I don't just trip over a brick. That'd be embarrassing."
"I would never stop laughing at you." I added.
"Exactly. See? Then again, painless. Worse ways to go." The Doctor said. "Depends on the brick."
"You're gabbling, sir." Jackson accused. "Now might I ask, who are you, exactly? That would make my companion hide you from me?"
I perked up. It's interesting to be reminded of this. A feeling that unsettled me back in the day- of seeing just how much he cared about me. A younger me would be upset. This connection is so important that Cybermen made note of it. In their infostamp of the Doctor, a memory of his love for me stayed.
The Doctor cared. He cared so much his enemies noticed. Not enough for me to be looped in with other companions, as with Rosita. I'm not a footnote, or addendum. Jackson's movement and words promised a whole chapter.
"No, I'm, er, I'm just." The Doctor looked at me. 'Little help?
"He's John Smith." I patted Jackson on the shoulder. "I've told him all about you."
"Yes! You're a legend, if I say so myself." The Doctor said with delight.
'You little shit.'
'You told them the same thing!'
"He is!" Derek cheered. He turned to Jackson, nodding with poor performance. "He- you are. You're a legend."
He's so stupid. This horrified and disgusts me. Darcy could do a better performance unconscious and drugged. I've seen her do it.
"Modesty forbids me to agree with you, sir. But yes." He smiled honestly. A proud, charming smile. A Doctor worthy grin. "Yes, I am."
"A legend with certain memories missing. Am I right?" The Doctor guessed.
His grin fell away. "How do you know that?"
"You've forgotten me." The Doctor countered.
Jackson turned to me. I gave a shrug.
"Great swathes of my life have been stolen away. When I turn my mind to the past, there's nothing." Jackson admitted.
"Going how far back?" The Doctor asked.
"Since the Cybermen. Masters of that hellish wall-scuttler and old enemies of mine, now at work in London town." Jackson explained. "You won't believe this, Mister Smith, young lads, but they are creatures from another world."
The Doctor blinked. Blinked hard. How did his eyeballs not pop out of his head at that? "Really. Wow."
"It's said they fell onto London, out of the sky in a blaze of light." His eyes wandered to the fire. He is lost in one of the few memories that belong to him. "And they found me. Something was taken. And something was lost. I was alone."
Jackson looked up. He did not look at the Doctor, as the boys expected. Instead, Jackson Lake turned to Terra Stardust to ask his question.
"What was I like, in the past?"
The line came to mind. The Doctor's words, giving passing information about 'memory loss' and 'one wrong word'. The idea of what the Doctor wanted me to say.
I knew the truth of Jackson Lake. Of who he was, 'in the past'. The truth of the man. The questions he truly, desperately needed. The wife he lost, the son he's missing.
The Doctor's eyes bore in my skull. Not to judge, not to guide, merely observe
Both men knew my skill. Both men trusted my word. The two boys did not.
What does it say about a person, that they are trusted by virtual strangers instead of their own brothers?
"I cannot decide for you." I say.
My own head spun at the heady realization it just came upon. My brothers didn't trust me, or my knowledge of the Doctor. A man who only knew me by the memory of my enemy, trusted me more than my brothers.
"Your mind needs to settle, ya know?" I continued. "You gotta decide the man you are, I can only support you through it."
Jackson took that in. He smiled, sadly. He knew I would say something like this. Still, he hoped otherwise.
"That's very you." He laughed. "I suppose that's why you brought Mister Smith and your boys?"
"Sure." Best to let him believe the delusion. "Friends to support you, and such."
"Support, yes."
"It's strange, though, Terra." Jackson turned to the Time Lord. "I talk of Cybermen from the stars, and your boys are properly astonished. Yet you don't blink, Mister Smith."
The Doctor widened his eyes. "Ah, don't blink. Remember that? Whatever you do, don't blink? The blinking and the statues? Sally and the angels? Just after Terra's regeneration? No?"
'He has amnesia! Don't ask him things!' I scolded.
The Doctor fought a grin. He sent me his mirth, though.
"You're a very odd man." Jackson stated.
I barked out a laugh.
"Hmm, I still am." He eyed Jackson. Something passed on his face, something he didn't say out loud. "Something's wrong here."
'Terra. What do you see?'
'What are you looking for me to confirm?'
'Who is he?'
'I'm not sure the kind of person he is right now.' Terra Johnson has no way of knowing Jackson Lake. She can't. She would, presumably, know only of regeneration. The idea of Cyber infostamps or fugue states are a concept. 'I can't sense Time Lords like you. Could you sense your fifth self?'
'No need. I knew his face.'
'But did you sense him?'
'I don't think so, no. He was me. You can't sense yourself.'
I beg to differ. Many times in the past I sensed my past and future selves.
"Oh, the funeral!" Jackson realized. "The funeral is at two o'clock. "It's been a pleasure, Mister Smith, Misters Kevin and Aaron. Don't breathe a word of it."
"Definitely." Derek nodded.
"Nobody, nope." Terrance shook his head. "Quiet. I can do quiet."
"He can. He definitely can." Derek confirmed. "He once went so quiet, it took us an hour to find him!"
I nodded. That was a scary hour.
He vanished on a trip to Disney many of their years ago. Terrance stopped talking as we explored the park. I noticed, asked Mr Spencer, and was ignored. Derek asked the same question ten minutes later. Mr Spencer panicked.
We searched the entire park. The closest restaurants, the nearest ride, nothing. It took us time to remember a family rule. 'When lost, find the biggest landmark and wait for us'. We went to the Tree of Life. Terrance was thankfully there, on a bench meant for pictures.
Derek was praised for noticing. The Spencers scolded me for- well it's hard to recall. It could have been many things at once. For not noticing, for not spotting him, for wandering off along the way to search places. Mr Spencer said a lot, and continued saying a lot the rest of the day. Wandering off was very much banned.
It's been fixed as their years went on. Terrance occasionally made noise or a comment, telling us where he was. Derek kept track of him, and I kept track of my every thought and movement. Vacations are so fun.
"Oh, but can't we come with you?" The Doctor asked Jackson.
The amnesiac shook his head, laughing. "It's far too dangerous. Rest assured, I shall keep this city safe." He pointed a finger at me. I perked up. "Terra, return these three home before meeting at the Reverend's house. Oh, and, er, merry Christmas, Mister Smith, gentlemen."
Derek and Terrance started hitting each other in the arm. The word 'dude' muttered under their breaths in rapid succession.
The Doctor bowed his head at the other. "Merry Christmas, Doctor."
Jackson waved at me again. "Be well, Terra!"
"Don't be late again!" I called out.
Jackson laughed, retreating into the city.
I turned to the Doctor. My brothers were still excitedly muttering to each other about how awesome this was. 'I don't think he's a Time Lord.'
The Doctor continued watching the direction Jackson left. 'What gave him away?'
'I made fun of you for always being late, and he just laughed. No follow up.' I reported. 'He was hurt longer than you after being dragged along the floor.'
The Doctor nodded. He glanced at the boys, then me. 'He remembered the boys, and you. But not me.'
'Then whatever made him think that skipped some parts.'
'You think it's malicious?'
'No, no. Definitely not. He was so sad when he lost something.'
The Doctor hummed.
"What?" I asked, out loud.
"Fourteen years did you good." The Doctor smiled. His special smile. The one that he gave to his best and brightest. The 'I believe in you' smile. His smile for his favorite displays of humanity.
I'm not human. He knows that. Being human doesn't equal having humanity. It's a special kind of goodness and compassion. He smiled this way when the universe surprised him with kindness. He said the years did me good. I'm inclined to agree. They were heartbreaking and full of different kinds of grief, but I had more good days than bad.
Lilac made me better. She made me want to be better. Because of that, I did my fucking best to improve. Time to show what I've learned.
==POMW==
It's not even difficult to find Reverend Fairchild's house. Jackson was terrible at sneaking around. His footprints were clear as day in the snow and mud. The Doctor and I barely paused in following him.
Derek and Terrance were still confused on how we could tell Jackson's feet apart from all the other prints on the ground.
The four of us hid behind a nearby metal gate. Jackson and Rosita stood farther ahead, watching the funeral procession. They were not good at sneaking around. It's a miracle nobody else noticed them. Or, maybe, I'm just a bizarrely good expert and am insulted by their terrible skills by comparison.
No. They're really bad at it.
"Is that him?" Derek asked.
"And Rosita?" Terrance asked.
The Doctor hushed them.
"The late Reverend Fairchild, leaving his place of residence for the last time." Jackson remarked. "God rest his soul. Now, with the house empty, I shall affect an entrance at the rear while you go back to the TARDIS. This is hardly work for a woman."
I stayed quiet. I stayed very, very quiet. The Doctor gave me a side eye. Even the boys beside me hid giggles and snorts.
"Oh, don't mind me and her saving your life. That's work for a woman, isn't it?" Rosita countered. Jackson clenched his jaw. "More on that, you still haven't said where Terra's been-"
"The Doctor's companion does what the Doctor says. Off you go." Jackson ordered.
Now that made the Doctor break. He let out the smallest snort, wiping his hand over his face. I glanced at him. He shook his head.
"What?" Derek asked.
"Nothing. Nothing." The Doctor replied.
I watched Rosita leave. Once she went a good distance, I started sneaking to the house.
"Just- companions usually hit me for saying things like that." The Doctor mused.
He smiled, fondly. Maybe he expected Donna to immediately pipe up about rudeness, about his alienness not being all that great, about a hundred other things before the Doctor could even take a step. Or maybe he recalled the time he made Eddie from Idiot's Lantern shut up about woman's work.
Derek laughed. "Yeah. But not M- uhh Terra, right?"
The Doctor tilted his head. I'm gonna kill Derek one day. Maybe in the next ten minutes, blame it on a Cyberman. He'll be back home and safe. It won't even leave a mark. Probably. Ish.
"Cause- cause you're an adult." Derek tried again. "She's- she can't be mean to a grown up like you."
That made me crack. Finally, a lie too big. It's just so funny to imagine him like a proper grownup. Or me letting it slide.
"What?" The Doctor asked. But he was grinning and teasing too.
"Nothing- nothing." I couldn't even hide my giggles. "I'm ready to break in if y'all are."
I walked to the front door. Nobody on the street paid me any mind. The Doctor followed with the boys. I opened the door without pause.
"It's not locked?" Terrance pointed out.
"It's a dead man's house." I countered. "Why lock it?"
"Hey." Derek nudged my arm. "You've been respectful, right?"
Aren't guys your age in a retirement home?
This here? Well we all call him Doctor Magoo.
That's nine, and I can easily make it ten.
"Well you both can stop laughing. It wasn't that funny."
"Soldiers just lie back and take orders. The Doctor doesn't do that. He makes orders and expects the rest of us to obey with questions, and thinks he's better than everyone!"
"Totally." I held the door open. Derek walked in. Terrance behind. The Doctor smiled down at me. "Somewhere. Along the line."
The Doctor nodded. "Yeah."
"Definitely." We let ourselves in.
I skipped to the back door. Derek and Terrance weren't subtle at all. They kept looking in the direction of the Cyberman. Jackson kept working on the backdoor lock. The door swung open. I smiled at him. Jackson gawked at me, confused.
"Good morning, sir!" I chirped. "Wanna come inside? We have refreshments in the parlor-"
"How did you get in?" Jackson asked.
The Doctor leaned over. "Oh, the front door. Terra is good at doors. Er, do you mind my asking, is that your sonic screwdriver?"
Jackson held up the actual screwdriver. "Yes. I'd be lost without it."
The Doctor frowned. "But that's a screwdriver. How's it sonic?"
"Well, er, it makes a noise. That's sonic, isn't it?" He tapped it on the doorframe. It did make a tiny little metal sound. "Now, since we're acting like common burglars, I suggest we get out of plain view."
He walked inside. I skipped back inside.
'Definitely not me, least of all a Time Lord.'
'For sure, now.'
I started my search. The boys followed me around, lost ducklings scared of the monster ahead. Or introverts at a party with the popular people, so they stuck around the one person they actually knew. I started searching tables and chairs for information. Nothing relevant, I just wanted to see if anything else popped up.
"This investigation of yours, what's it about?" The Doctor asked.
"It started with a murder." Jackson replied, tight. He really hoped to do this alone. Now he had four companions tagging along.
"Oh, good." The Doctor remarked. Jackson frowned at him. "I mean bad, but whose?"
Jackson went back to searching the place. I'm not sure what he's looking for so I can't offer insight or help him in any way. It'd be nice though. "Mr Jackson Lake, a teacher of mathematics from Sussex. He came to London three weeks ago and died a terrible death."
I paused in my search. The Doctor noticed.
"Cybermen?" The Doctor asked Jackson. Jackson looked up at the Doctor. 'Terra?'
"It's hard to say. His body was never found." Jackson admitted. The Doctor hummed in my mind. "But then it started. More secret murders, then abductions." He froze again, staring off even if he didn't realize it. "Children, stolen away in silence."
Derek and Terrance grabbed my sleeve. I darted my eyes towards the Cyberman- no change. The boys were just worried. They'd just heard children were abducted. They're allowed to be freaked out by this.
I leaned back to them. "If there's danger, I shout 'rutabaga'. You run until you see stairs covered in handprints. Got it?"
They both blinked.
"Boys?" I prompted.
"Yes." Derek nodded. "Stairs with paint, rutabaga. Got it."
"Good." I brushed his hair down. Derek shook his head. Easily, I captured his head and ruffled his hair. As Terrance laughed, I used my other hand to ruffle his hair.
Jackson nodded at my brothers. "Terra went out to stop it. She's very protective of children. She- She protected...They're-" His mind wandered off. Buried memories demanded to be let out. Jackson dropped the book in his hands to the floor.
The boys jumped back. My left arm raised to block them from danger, my right went to my Bag.
"Whose house are we in?" I asked.
"The latest murder." Jackson answered. He went back to his investigation. He said nothing about what he needed, or what he was searching for. Then again, I am a woman. All these 'clues' and 'ideas' are too much for my poor little head. I'm the plucky young girl that helps him out, duh. "The Reverend Aubrey Fairchild, found with burns to his forehead, like some advanced form of electrocution."
The Doctor leaned on a table. He crossed his arms over his chest. "But who was he? Was he important?"
"You ask a lot of questions." Jackson pointed out.
The Doctor blinked. "I'm your companion."
Jackson accepted it. The Doctor smirked at me. I scrunched up my nose at him. It made him giggle to himself. The boys relaxed at my back. They still stuck behind me, but I kept my left arm outstretched to protect them.
"The Reverend was the pillar of the community, a member of many parish boards. A keen advocate of children's charities." Jackson explained.
"Children again." Terrance held my right arm. I wanted to shake him off, but I'm also confident I can grab my weapon from where he's holding. It's not a terrible thing. "Thought they couldn't use kids, the bodies are too small."
"But why would the Cybermen want him dead?" The Doctor asked. "And what's his connection to the first death, this Jackson Lake?"
Jackson paused in his search. He stood up to stare at the Doctor. He walked closer to the man, eyebrows scrunched together. "It's funny. I seem to be telling you everything, as though you engendered some sort of trust. You seem familiar, Mister Smith. I know your face. But how?"
He was so lost, so confused. His memories were swirling around in his mind. His, and the Doctor's history. It all collided and slammed together without thought for the man.
"I wonder." The Doctor stepped forward. "I can't help noticing you're wearing a fob watch."
"Is that important?" Jackson pulled the watch out.
"Legend has it that the memories of a Time Lord can be contained within a watch. Do you mind?" The Doctor held out his hand.
Jackson handed it over.
"It's said that if it's opened-" The Doctor popped it up. The watch fell apart immediately, clockworking fell to the ground with metallic twangs. "Oh. Maybe not."
"It was more for decoration." Jackson excused.
"I'd've noticed that." I reminded the Doctor. The Master's fob watch was a bright, unstoppable tidal wave of force on my mind. Even when I was Caroline Brown I sensed the power behind a fob watch. If this fob watch had even a fraction of a Time Lord inside, I'd've told him.
The Doctor nodded, pointing a finger at me. "Right, yeah. Anyway. Alien infiltration."
I went off in a direction. The boys stayed on my coattails.
"How'd you have noticed?" Derek whispered.
"Time Lord." I tapped my forehead. "The fob watches always gave off a special kind of psychic energy. Easy to read if you know what to look for."
"Did you know what you were looking for?" Terrance asked. "Like- wait. How did you know?"
"I've interacted with them before-"
"Don't blink! That's after the-" Derek glanced back at the Doctor. "1913. You used one?"
"I was a Time Lord then, dude." I whispered even lower. "Remember? I told you this."
Derek blinked.
"Yes!" Terrance caught on much faster. "Yes, you told us about your adventures. Yeah. Did you ever fight the Master?"
I tensed up. Slowly, oh so slowly, I turned to my middle brother. Blond hair just beginning to brown, sharp jaw, no signs of stubble, and eyes blue as an ocean. Not a trace of brown or amber. His clothes were baggy and big, like when the Master regenerated from Professor Yana.
The Master tried to convince me he killed this boy. Blew up him, and his entire state. For a solid afternoon I thought my brothers were dead. All because of the Master.
"I did."
"Did you win?" Terrance asked, eyes wide and excited.
Front sight. Trigger press. Follow through. Lucy Saxon vanished. His ring fell to the ground, picked up by a disciple.
"No way she fought the Master." Derek dismissed. "Remember how she freaked when she first watched the-"
"Shush!" Jackson called out. I'm grateful, cause it kept me from murdering Derek in self defense. "What's that noise?"
The Doctor used his sonic. That's right, an episode was taking place behind us. A whole mystery unfolded, and we were focusing on the stupid past that'll one day become the stupid future.
"Oh it's just me. Whistling." The Doctor whistled in an exact copy to the sonic. It's honestly terrifying, and we all need to be afraid of what David Tennant is capable of. He pointed at a desk. "I wonder what's in here, though."
I slid over to it. Without waiting for any of them, I opened it. Cybermen infostamps waited inside.
Lifting it up, I showed them off to the four men. "Different and metal. Doctor, do I know what these are?"
"They are infostamps." The Doctor supplied. He always forgot his roles when he lied. He's a terrible liar, and it's embarrassing.
I cleared my throat.
The Doctor blinked, before staring up at the confused face of Jackson Lake. "I mean, at a guess." I rolled my eyes. The boys snickered behind me.
The device still in my hands, I twisted and turned it around. "I'm just a lady, but if I could guess. Something tells me they work like this."
I pressed the button. Images projected on the mirror behind us. History unfolded in screenshots and data files.
"See? Compressed information. Tons of it." The Doctor explained. Jackson and the boys just watched. "That is the history of London, 1066 to the present day. This is like a disc, a Cyberdisc."
"Information compression." I said. "Cybermen search engine."
Derek rolled his eyes.
"But wait, why would they need it?" I tossed the item in my hand. "They have a Cyber network connecting them. They don't need simple things like this. Unless-?"
"Unless they're in the wrong century!" The Doctor realized. Jackson toyed with another infostamp. The man sat himself down. His face fell. He stared not at the infostamp, but the ground beneath him. I tossed the infostamp aside. Terrance caught it, pressing the button for more images. "They haven't got much power. They need plain old infostamps to update themselves."
"Hey." I knelt by his side. Jackson was breathing rapidly. The mental work must be exhausting. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Jackson dismissed.
"You've never been able to lie to me." I argued. "Don't even try. What's wrong?"
Jackson winced. He raised the infostamp slightly higher. "I've seen one of these before."
I nodded, encouraging.
"I was holding this device the night I lost my mind." He revealed. "The night I regenerated. The Cybermen, they made me change. My mind, my face, my whole self." He looked over me to the Doctor standing behind in support.
Derek and Terrance watched it all. Silent, and in awe.
"And you were there." He turned his head to me. I reached up, cupping his face and brushing his forehead. with my thumb. Turbulent memories swirled beneath. They made his mind vibrate. I could see bits and pieces. It's not enough for a full picture, unless you already happen to know it. "Not you. Where were you? Where did you go?"
"I'm here." I promised. "We're right here, and we're your friends. I swear."
"Then I beg you, Terra." Jackson pleaded. "Help me."
"Ah. Two words we never refuse." The Doctor hummed. "But it's not a conversation for a dead man's house. It'll make more sense if we go back to the TARDIS." The Doctor stood up. He gestured to Jackson. "Your TARDIS."
I stood up too. Without waiting, the boys reached out for me. I held their hands. Carefully, quickly, I guided them towards a path. A sure path that'll definitely get them to the stairs.
Jackson Lake stayed in the chair. Not moving, not hearing any of this. He tried to understand his own mind.
"Hold on. I just need to do a little final check. Won't take a tick." The Doctor started searching around again, looking at doors and passageways. "There's one more thing I cannot figure. If this room's got infostamps, then maybe, just maybe, it's got something that needs info stamping."
Grabbing the shoulder of Jackson, I lifted him up to his feet. He jumped, startled.
"John's not thought this through."
The door slammed shut.
"Okay. I think we should run!" The Doctor called out.
"See?" I pushed him off. The boys led him away. Jackson followed, barely looking back to see the Cyberman.
The door slammed off the hinges. It clattered to the ground.
Jackson stumbled. I went to his side, helping him up. The two of us ran together. The Doctor ran up behind us. He soniced a door closed behind us.
"Run, Doctor! Now, Doctor!" The Doctor called out.
We went down another hallway. The boys continued to the stairs. I purposefully misdirected us.
Another Cyberman blocked our path. "Delete. The Doctor will be deleted."
The Cyberman behind the door shattered it. "Delete."
"Hey!" Derek called out.
I guided Jackson to the stairs. "Watch them!"
"Can't lead them outside!" The Doctor confirmed.
He and I defended the stairs, blocking the Cybermen from advancing past. The Doctor grabbed a sword off the wall- or he tried, he actually grabbed an umbrella. I pulled one from my Bag.
"Ooh that your's?" The Doctor mused.
I smirked. "It's special."
My thumb flicked a small, tiny switch. Before the Doctor's eyes, in front of the Cybermen, the sword heated up. Lines of bright red formed along the steel. It warmed up like a toaster. One could even smell the charring remains of bread along the hilt. Guess I didn't clean it super well last time I used it.
The smell doesn't make me wanna vomit. Yep definitely toast, not human flesh.
"The fire sword." The Doctor realized.
"Fire sword!" I slashed it at the Cybermen.
Darcy and I made these.
Well, she asked and I said no. Cause if she got a fire sword, I would make it. I'd definitely make one for me too. If both of us had fire swords, we do what boys do when they both get lightsabers and fight. If we did that, neither of us would have arms. She said our missing limbs were the perfect place for fire sword arms. I said no again. Darcy demanded I give her a fire sword so she could have a fire sword arm.
So anyway. We're all very lucky somebody nearby had strong healing magic.
The Cyberman stumbled back. A mark of black across its chest. "Delete."
"Hey, get up here!" Derek called out. "It's too dangerous for you!"
I ignored him.
The Doctor managed to find a sword. He raised it, taking the spot ahead of me. "I'm a dab hand with a cutlass. You don't want to come near me when I've got one of these. This is your last warning. No? Okay, this is really your last warning!"
The Cybermen marched forward.
I stabbed them. It cut one on the neck. It paused, twitching and flinching.
"Okay, I give up." The Doctor grabbed my arm. He dragged me back.
I barely caught myself before hitting the stairs. "Stay back! I'm trained to use this!"
"Delete." The two Cybermen replied. Typical. Just because we aren't Daleks they won't have a roast battle with us. It's very rude, might I say.
"Listen to me properly. Whatever you're doing stuck in 1851, we can help!" The Cybermen came closer. "I mean it. We're the only people in the world who can help you! Listen to me!"
"Delete." The Cyberman raised his arm. He slashed down at me.
I held the sword up. The metals touched. His Cyberarm burned and hissed. The power of the sword almost melted his steel arm. It's a Cybus arm, made from normal Earth steel. Hardened, yes, but still susceptible to this kind of damage.
The Doctor kicked at him. The Cyberman used his other arm. The Doctor blocked it with his sword. "I'm the Doctor. You need me." The Cyberman advanced. The Doctor and I kept our swords up. "Check your memory banks. My name's the Doctor. Leave this man alone. The Doctor is me!"
I kicked the Cyberman in the chest. It stumbled back. The Doctor gave a hefty shove. The Cyberman fell back on his friend.
"Delete."
"The Doctor, remember? I'm the Doctor! You need me alive. You need the Doctor, and that's me!" The Doctor yelled at him.
The Cybermen pushed again. His arm was partly melted through, my sword got stuck in it. He shoved so hard I tumbled down the last step. The Doctor and I were sent sprawling onto the floor.
"Delete-" The Cyberman tried.
Two blasts of light came from behind. I turned, terrified for what I'd see.
Jackson Lake held an infostamp, yes. He shined one down on the Cybermen. Beside him, Terrance held one. He had it aimed at the Cyberman attacking me.
The Cybermen twitched and flinched and shook. Blue electricity crackled around their heads. Two direct forms of energy overwhelmed them. They fell to their knees, both their heads exploding.
Terrance dropped the infostamp.
"Aaron!"
I ran to his side, tucking the infostamp away. I checked his arms, face, eyes, every part of him. Did this stamp do anything to my brother? It turned Jackson Lake into the Doctor. I won't lose Terrance to this too, to becoming a Time Lord. Mom will kill me, and I'll let her.
Terrance went along with it. "I'm okay. I'm okay."
"Infostamp with a Cyclo-Steinham core." The Doctor laughed. Derek finally joined me in checking over Terrance. "You ripped open the core and broke the safety. Zap! Only the Doctor would think of that."
"Is he okay?"
"I think-"
"Did that do something to him?"
"No, he's-"
"I'm fine Kevin!"
"No you're not! You- you just-" Derek looked between us both. "You just-"
"You have a fire sword?" Terrance asked.
"I did that." Jackson spoke up. He looked at the Doctor. "Last time."
The Doctor nodded. He glanced at me, tentatively reaching out. I shook my head. "Come here. You'll be okay. Let me just check." He reached for his stethoscope, struggling.
I held it up to Terrance. Terrance looked back and forth. "How did you-"
"Master pickpocket." I dismissed, holding it to his chest. His heartbeat was fast, yes, but nothing irregular. He's okay. I tossed the stethoscope to the Doctor. "Have it back."
"Thanks." He stepped closer to Jackson.
Jackson stared with his face drenched in sweat. "You told them you were the Doctor. Why did you do that?"
The Doctor checked his pulse. He reached out to me again. Satisfied as Terrance's safety, I let him in. 'One heart. He's not me.' The Doctor said, firm and resolute. 'We need to find his TARDIS.'
'I agree.'
'I have an idea of what happened. Without seeing his TARDIS- his lodgings- I won't know for sure.'
'Me either.'
'How will the boys take it?'
'They're quick. They'll be fine.'
'Good. His TARDIS might be a safe place for them to hide while we stop the Cybermen.'
'You thinking about telling them to wait there? And have it work?'
'They'll listen to you.'
I snorted, in our mind. 'Why do you think that?'
'I've got a feeling.'
"Oh, I was just protecting you."
"You're trying to take away the only thing I've got, like they did." Jackson snapped, tired. "They stole something, something so precious, but I can't remember. What happened to me? What did they do?"
The Doctor steeled himself. "We'll find out. The lot of us, together."
Jackson nodded, calmed for the moment.
"Ummm. The sword?" Terrance reminded me.
"Oh yeah!" I reached back. It nearly cut all the way through the arm by this point. The switch flipped, powering it down. Anything semi-organic around the cut was now a charred mess. "Thanks Kev."
Terrance grinned. He smiled at Derek, expecting similar praise. But Derek was too busy frowning at me.
==POMW==
It took Jackson a moment to compose himself. We walked down the snowy, muddy roads. Jackson tried to work out his mind. The ideas and beliefs of his past, the knowledge of his future. The Doctor walked with us, occasionally chiming in.
Terrance started up a chat about the fire sword at some point, but I kept it quiet. This wasn't the place for it. Maybe later. It's one of Lilac's favorite bedtime stories. She'd get a kick hearing me tell her uncles.
"Doctor!" Rosita called out.
The four of us turned to it. Jackson stood up straighter, face clear like he hadn't been crying or showing a speck of emotion.
Rosita ran over to us. She swept Jackson into a hug. "I thought you were dead!"
"Now then, Rosita, a little decorum." Jackson chided.
The hug ended. "You've been gone for so long." Rosita straightened out her skirts. She turned to the Doctor and me. "He's always doing this, leaving me behind. Going frantic."
"It's a constant thing with him, I know!" Came my equal complaint. "Won't even let me check for injuries!"
"Never, not once!" Rosita agreed. Her shoulders relaxed. "Don't matter that I was a mess."
"He can't bother about that!" I rolled my eyes. "It's too domestic!"
"Yes!" Rosita clapped her hands, pointing one at me. "Yes it's that!"
"Alright- hey, what about the TARDIS?" Jackson asked.
Rosita sobered up. "She's ready. Come on." Rosita walked off.
Jackson side eyed me, frowning. The Doctor side eyed me, pretending not to have heard a word.
'Even Rosita knows it.' I told him.
He hummed, scratching his ear like he hadn't heard me. "I'm looking forward to this." He walked off after them.
I watched them go, fuming. Darcy would get it, if she were here. Donna would shout this all from rooftops.
I ran to catch up.
The fake TARDIS was housed amongst a stable. Not stable condition, or stable housing. This place was for horses or other load bearing animals. One stable room was stuffed with luggage bags and crates. No clothes were poking out, but I still tried to tell which ones were for his wife and which were for his son. It's just so much luggage that any of them could be it.
"You were right though, Rosita. The Reverend Fairchild's death was the work of the Cybermen." Jackson told her.
"So, you live here?" The Doctor eyed the many bits and bobs of luggage and furniture.
"A temporary base, until we rout the enemy." Jackson excused. "The TARDIS is magnificent, but it's hardly a home."
I reeled back, affronted. The TARDIS is not a home, she's the home. She has more space than this man can fathom. She's the best home that ever existed cause she's friendly too! The TARDIS is kind! Fuck you!
This poor, poor amnesiac. I should be blaming the Cybermen for this delusion. They fucked up his perception of the TARDIS.
"And where's the TARDIS now?" The Doctor asked.
"Yeah I wanna see!" Terrance said, delighted.
"In the yard." Jackson guided us towards it.
"You have a lot of stuff." I stated.
"It's all evidence." Jackson replied. "The property of Jackson Lake, the first man to be murdered."
The Doctor eyed me. 'Jackson Lake. You think he's Jackson Lake?'
'The fob watch said JL.' I reminded him. 'And all this stuff is definitely his.'
Derek and Terrance wandered over to Jackson Lake. They stayed by the man's side.
"Oh, but my new friend is a fighter, Rosita, much like myself." Jackson admitted. "Terra found a good one. He faced the Cybermen with a cutlass, and Terra drew a sword that cut through a Cybermaj's arm. I'm not ashamed to say they were braver than I. They were quite brilliant."
The Doctor went to study it. As he did, he brought out his sonic. I rolled my eyes.
"The same for this lad." Jackson gestured to Terrance. "He felled a Cyberman beside me."
Terrance preened. I grinned in his direction. Terrance turned to a dispassionate Derek. "I beat a Cyberman."
Derek grumbled. "Yeah."
"Nobody back home is gonna believe me, but dude. I did it." Terrance said, proud as any 12 year old boy can.
"I know." His brother had none of the excitement and joy.
I heard that tone before. Darcy used it so much near the end, that very first end. It made me focus on my brother in a very different light. His morals of being a snitch were further called into question. He was never gonna snitch for the good of the family, he was gonna do it for himself. How far would he go for that?
'It's so much luggage.'
'It really is. Donna didn't even have this much.'
The Doctor didn't even smile fondly. It made something settle poorly in me, before wildly flaring out. The special brand of rage that I thought I learned to handle.
'Donna Noble would kick your ass for that.'
He ignored me.
'I know it for a fact.'
He paused then. 'For you, it was years ago. For me, it's been hours.'
"Are you whistling again?" Jackson complained.
"He is!"
"Spoilsport." He told me. He opened the luggage crate. I stayed back, too scared of opening the one crate with dresses or children's clothes.
Rosita came up to the Doctor. "That's another man's property."
"Well, a dead man's." He countered. "How did you two meet, then?"
"He saved my life. Late one night, by the Osterman's Wharf, this creature came out of the shadows." Derek and Terrance tried talking to Jackson. The man ignored them. Not with malice, but his own mind not being able to handle the reminder. "A man made of metal. I thought I was going to die. And then, there he was. The Doctor. Can you help him, sir? He has such terrible dreams. Wakes at night in such a state of terror."
"Come now, Rosita. With all the things a Time Lord has seen, everything he's lost, he may surely have bad dreams." Jackson dismissed.
The Doctor tensed up. I stepped closer beside him. The two of us had many, many nightmares. Our decades of trauma came up in loops. We loved, and lost. Sometimes together, sometimes apart. We both felt pain in different and horrible ways. It made dreaming very hard, yes.
I used to love my dreams. Sleeping was a highlight. For a while, I thought my travels were just really clear dreams. That joy stayed for so long. It went away for almost a century. Then, during a three year period, I had to comfort a scared dragon toddler. She needed me to be there for her at night.
She helped me sleep at night.
The Doctor was alone.
He plucked an infostamp out of the suitcase. "Yeah. Oh, now. Look. Jackson Lake had an infostamp."
Jackson walked up. Derek and Terrance followed like eager ducks. "But how? Is that significant?"
"Doctor, the answer to all this is in your TARDIS. Can I see it?" The Doctor asked.
Jackson smiled. "Mister Smith, it would be my honor."
==POMW==
It's a hot air balloon.
A dark blue hot air balloon. It floated up, already primed for a flight. Patches were made of various old clothes and things. Perhaps it's all just made of fabric Jackson found around town. Or maybe he found this hot air balloon and bought it, then claimed it was the TARDIS all along.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
"There she is. My transport through time and space. The TARDIS." Jackson proclaimed.
Derek laughed. Terrance put on a blank expression, staring up at the sky.
"You've got a balloon." The Doctor stated.
"TARDIS. T-A-R-D-I-S. It stands for Tethered Aerial Release Developed In Style. Do you see?" Jackson asked.
"Yeah, definitely." Derek walked over to the balloon. He looked at it, just so surprised.
Terrance went the other direction, still walking to the balloon. "It's cool."
"Well, I do now. I like it. Good TARDIS." He started scratching at his ear, pulling it. "Brilliant. Nice one. And is it inflated by gas, yeah?"
'You told me once TARDIS' couldn't be built. How's it feel to be proven wrong, old man?'
The Doctor smiled at me. He pushed my shoulder. I laughed.
Jackson continued to admire his ship. Jed the worker walked over. "We're adjacent to the Mutton Street Gasworks. I pay them a modest fee. Good work, Jed." Jackson handed him a large wad of paper from his coat pocket.
"Glad to be of service, sir." Jed nodded. He pocketed the money.
"You've got quite a bit of money." The Doctor pointed out.
"Oh, you get nothing for nothing." Jackson dismissed. "How's that ripped panel, Jed?"
"All repaired. Should work a treat." Jed leaned over, elbowing Jackson. Derek and Terrance continued to walk around the balloon, pointing out the cooler parts and quietly comparing it to the modern day counterpart. "You never know, maybe tonight's the night, Doctor. Imagine it, seeing Christmas from above."
I smiled. The image was a familiar one in my mind. Haunting, tragic, beautiful. The Doctor lost his hand. I watched from his side, and from the Earth below. Watching Christmas from the sky is a wonderful thing. Everybody should see it.
Yet Jackson did not look excited. He stared instead down at the ground. "Not just yet, I think. One day, I will ascend. One day soon." Jackson said.
A new image of Jackson Lake came to me. A scared, cowering man who ran and hid from problems. A man too scared to venture higher than the buildings. A man who was terrified by the stars, but always longing to run. No wonder he became the Doctor.
Caroline would be proud of the man he is now. His son, Frederick, will grow up with a great father.
"You've never actually been up?" The Doctor asked, after Jed walked away.
"He dreams of leaving, but never does." Rosita noted.
"Flying is the...greatest terror I ever wanna know." I remarked. In many universes, I gained the power of flight. Wings, complete lack of physics, whichever. Nothing ever felt so freeing. Feeling the air currents in my fingers, around my hair, it's always been so good.
"I can depart in the TARDIS once London is safe. And finally, when I'm up there. Think of it, John. The time and the space." Jackson mused.
"The perfect escape." The Doctor stated, also understanding so much more of Jackson Lake. "Do you ever wonder what you're escaping from?"
"With every moment."
The Doctor and I exchanged a look. Derek and Terrance walked back over, sensing something serious was about to happen.
"Then do you want us to tell you?" The Doctor and I asked.
Jackson looked up at us.
"Because I think we've worked it out now." The Doctor said. "How you became the Doctor."
"What do you think?" I asked. "Are you ready to know?"
Jackson nodded without hesitating.
==POMW==
AN: Hello, hi, yes! It's been awhile. Been a rough couple of months. Hurt my back in January and spent a lot of weeks in too much pain to write anything. I managed to get a lot more of this done in March, and then I figured out I had seasonal depression until like, actually it's probably still happening. Anyway! This is coming out to be 24k words so I split it in half. Part 2 will come soon.