As London started to awaken and beginning to the clear up after the previous night's carnage, a couple of UNIT trucks made their way toward Camden Lock. One carried The Doctor, and Donna, along with Shirley Anne Birmingham, while the other carried the rest of the Noble family. The Doctor was quite eager to be on her way again. Especially after having been forced to complete all sorts of reports, and other tedious military intelligence stuff before being allowed to leave the steelworks. The Doctor was beginning to remember why she'd gone AWOL on UNIT all those years ago. Once there, The Doctor to the Black castle Passage, around a corner, and down a certain alleyway where stood a particular tall blue box.
As they did so, Donna wondered aloud what was going to happen to her house after it had quite literally been turned into a battlefield.
"It's not like we've got the money to move anywhere. And I don't think Mum wants us moving permanently. I mean now this is all working again," Donna tapped the side of her head, "Who knows what could happen? What alien threat might come a-knocking on the front door?"
Sylvia nodded, agreeing full heartedly. She might love her family dearly, but she'd worked really hard to keep her life alien-free for the last fifteen years, and after the Doctor had left, she intended to keep it that way.
"Oh, don't worry," said the Doctor, "UNIT has a great insurance policy. Right, Shirl?"
Shirley smiled, and nodded. "Property Damage in the Course of Alien Incursion."
"Besides," said the Doctor. "While all that's getting sorted…" The Doctor leaned against the Tardis, crossing her arms, as a mischievous grin made its way across her face.
"D'you know," said Donna, walking toward the blue box, Sylvia, Rose, and Shaun following at her heels, exchanging anxious looks. She stared at the familiar old police box, before giving the Doctor a sad smile. "But I've got adventures of my own." She reached out and took Rose's hand. 'Bringing up this one."
Rose let go off her mum's hand and peered up on tiptoes, trying to look through the Tardis windows, her eyes burning with curiousity. "Can I see inside?"
'Don't you dare," Sylvia said, recognizing the look on Rose's face, it was the same look Donna always had, back when she first left with the Doctor.
"No," Donna said, easing Rose away. "Because something will go wrong and you'll end up on Mars. With Chaucer. And a robot shark." Then she stopped. Was that a memory?
"That actually happened, didn't it?", she asked, while the Doctor grinned and said, "Oh, I'd forgotten about that!"
"So, what now, Doctor?", asked Shirley.
"Oh, well, I've got some friends to pick up," said the Doctor. "Kat and Billy."
"Going for couples now, eh?" teased Donna.
"Oi, it's not like that!" exclaimed the Doctor with wounded pride. "They've just been on holiday.."
Before Donna could tease the Doctor further, another UNIT truck pulled up. Then, a couple of soldiers got out, flanking the vehicle. They were soon followed by a tall, slender blond haired woman. She looked to be about Donna's age and wore a trouser suit like it was a uniform. This was Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, head of UNIT and Shirley Anne Bingham's boss.
While everyone was distracted, The Doctor gave the woman a quick, sassy salute and shared a conspiratorial wink with Shirley before quietly slipping into the Tardis.
Everyone turned as the sound of ancient grinding engines came to life, and the light on top of the Tardis began flashing. Then before their eyes, the tall blue box vanished.
Donna watched the Tardis fade away, sad to see the Doctor go so soon. Then again, The Doctor had never really liked goodbyes. So caught up in her thoughts, Donna didn't notice Kate was beside her til she whispered gently in her ear. "Good work."
Despite herself, Donna flinched. "Err…thank you."
"Seriously impressive what you did back there," Kate confided, smiling alittle. "Both of you" she nodded toward Rose, who had rejoined Donna's side. "Would you be interested in UNIT? We could use some of your expertise."
Donna raised her eye brows. "How much?"
"Sixty thousand pounds."
Donna shared a look with Rose, before shaking her head and saying, "One hundred and twenty, plus five weeks' holiday."
Kate narrowed her eyes, as she considered it. "Done," she said, before walking off to confer with Shirley.
Oooohhhh, thought Donna.