Chapter 2

The Doctor was working at the console, looking at an Okudagram of the Dyson Sphere on the monitor. "I should shut down the eye of harmony and recalibrate the sensors, and then work on the lateral array."

Movement caught his eye and he was surprised to see Jamie moving toward the time rotor. He was looking at the pumping time rotor with real pleasure and affection on his face.

The Doctor was a little uncomfortable here. He didn't expect Jamie to just show up like this. Jamie was slowly walking around the time rotor, taking everything in.

"Jamie, this… really isn't a good time for a tour. I'm running a phase seven survey of the Dyson Sphere."

"I'm not here for a tour, I'm here to help."

The Doctor was surprised and it showed. "That's… very kind. But I think I can handle it."

Jamie moved quickly to the monitor and the Doctor followed. The graphic showed a cut-away view of the sphere, revealing a star at the centre, and a thin atmosphere clinging to the interior of the sphere itself.

"Sensor readings indicate the presence of a G-type star at the centre of the sphere. There also appears to be a class-M atmosphere clinging to the interior surface. I wonder if there is any indication that the sphere is inhabited? The preliminary data indicates it is still capable of supporting life, but I can't see definite signs of current habitation."

The Doctor was clearly intrigued and excited by the thought of someone still living in there. "I'll send out a series of class four probes to survey the far side of the sphere. Perhaps I'll have more luck with them."

Jamie and the Doctor were working at the console. Jamie's attitude was cheerful and excited, but in his effort to be helpful he was really straining the Doctor's patience.

"I'll adjust the frequency stabilization on the main deflector dish. It's out of synch with the sensors."

Jamie saw something on the console and he talked over the Doctor, "Doc, ye need to phase-lock the time fields within three percent or they'll become unstable."

"What?"

Jamie worked a panel, "Here. The time field is…"

But as soon as Jamie touched the controls, the console suddenly sounded an alarm in response to his action. The Doctor quickly moved to correct the situation.

"I use a multi-phase auto-containment field now, it's meant to operate above three percent."

Jamie seemed rattled for only a moment and he quickly recovered. "Ah. Well, that would make all the difference."

"We can re-start the engines in ten minutes."

"I remember a time when the old TARDIS was spiralling in toward Psi two thousand… you wanted to try a cold start of the engines. I told you that without a proper phase-lock it would take a least thirty minutes. 'You canna change the laws of physics' I said, but of course you wouldn't listen so we had to come up with a new engine start-up routine."

As the Doctor studied a tablet and tried valiantly to do his job, Jamie looked up at the time rotor. "Do you know that your rotor tubes are about to fracture?"

The Doctor looked up at this and then at the time rotor. Jamie had opened the rotor chamber at its base and was examining the rotor tubes with a critical eye.

The Doctor's patience was starting to wear thin at this point. "I recomposite the tubes while they're still inside the articulation frame. I'd like to explain everything, I want this spectrographic analysis done first."

The Doctor went over to the side to work. Jamie watched him for a moment, then quietly moved over to him.

"Time Lords are like children. You want everything right now and you want it your way… the secret is to give you what you need, not what you want."

Jamie's paternalistic attitude was really rubbing the Doctor the wrong way and the advice itself went completely against the Doctor's personality. "I want to have that analysis done in an hour."

"And how long will it really take you?"

"An hour."

"It won't really take you that long?"

"Of course it will."

"Oh…Doc. You've got a lot to learn if you want to look like a miracle worker. You've got to…"

But the Doctor's patience had just run out and he rounded on Jamie. "Look, mate. I've tried to be patient, I've tried to be polite. But I've got a job to do here. And you're…in the way."

Jamie's own temper started to flare and his voice rose. "I was driving the TARDIS with you not too long ago in my timeline. I'd think you'd be grateful for a little help."

But the Doctor had had enough of this and he turned away from Jamie in exasperation so he could return to his work. Jamie took that as an insult. "Then I'll leave ye to work, Doctor."

And with that, Jamie stormed out of the Control Room. Almost as soon as he left, the Doctor regretted the incident, but it was too late.

Jamie was in his quarters, still a little churned up by the blow-up with the Doctor. He fumed and paced about the room.

"…'in the way'… used to be we had a little respect for each other… used to matter if a man…"

The was a knock on the door.

"What do you want?"

Carolyn entered. Her demeanor was so pleasant and innocent that Jamie felt compelled to back away from his anger a little.

"Is this a bad time?"

"Oh… uh, no." He extended a hand. "Jamie McCrimmon at your service. What can I do for you?"

"I'm Carolyn, and actually I'm here to see if there's anything I can do for you.'

They sat down. Jamie was appreciative, but a little puzzled at intentions.

"Why… thank you, Lass. But I'm set for now. The quarters are more than adequate, the replicator is a wonder…"

Jamie smiled at her, clearly not understanding why she was there.

"I'm glad you're comfortable. But I was actually more interested in how you feel."

"How I feel?"

"Yes. It would be perfectly normal to feel disoriented, confused or even frightened following the kind of extraordinary experience you've just had."

"I suppose it's been… a little bewildering, yes."

There was an awkward pause as Jamie wonders where all this is going and Carolyn tries a different tack.

"I'm sure you have a lot of questions about what's happened since you were taken from the Doctor… if you'd like, I could help you access some of our historical records."

"Perhaps." He looked at Carolyn with suspicion. "Why are you really here?"

"I'm here to take care of your emotional well-being."

"And you're a companion of the Doctor?"

"Yes. I joined the Doctor about two years ago. I've noticed that the pressures of extended space travel…"

"You're a psychologist."

"Among other things."

"The Doctor sent you here, didn't he? I'm not crazy."

"The Doctor didn't send me and I know you're not crazy."

Jamie got to his feet, annoyed at this entire affair. "You're damed right I'm not. And I don't need a counselor, or a psychologist, or whatever else you are. I know what I need and it's not here." With that, Jamie headed for the door.

Jamie entered the galley and looked around. He smiled at the scene… somehow this is more to his liking. He sat down at the counter. Nita was seated at the table nearby.

"Can I get you something, Jamie?"

"Aye, Lass. Scotch. Neat."

Nita got up and went to the replicator and presently returned with a drink.

"Thank you."

Jamie looked at it with a discerning eye… then took a sip. He frowned and then put down the drink in evident disgust. Nita observed his reaction.

"What is blazes is this?"

"Didn't you ask for Scotch?"

"Lass, I was drinking scotch before you were born and I can tell you that whatever this is, it is definitely not scotch."

"Ah, you are unaware of the existence of synthehol."

"Synthehol?"

"Yes. It's an alcohol substiture which the Doctor now normally stocks on the TARDIS. It simulates the appearance, smell and taste of alcohol, but the intoxicating affects can be easily dismissed."

Jamie just looked at Nita for a moment. "Synthetic Scotch."

Nita thought for a moment, then moved behind the bar. "I think Romana left some non-synthetic products when she visited. Perhaps one of them would be to your liking." Nita bent down and reached under the bar… then stood up and put a very old bottle of a green liquid on the bar.

"What is it?"

Nita was unable to read the label. She removed the cap and sniffed the contents… but still didn't know what to make of it… she looked at the liquid and finally told Jamie the only thing she knew for certain. "It's green."

That was good enough for Jamie and he let Nita pour him a drink.