Chapter One -- THE PLANET - EARTH
The Time Rotor moved slowly up and down in the centre of the six-sided console indicating the TARDIS was in flight. The control room of the time machine at first glance appeared empty: but then, almost anything at first glance regarding the two renegades Time Lords of Gallifrey who currently occupied the TARDIS, was deceptive.
Somewhere beneath the canopy-type top of the console could be heard the sounds of gentled laughter. From each of two opposed access ports, a pair of blue knickered legs protruded. Each pair of legs was sporting their own cranberry/navy, argyle socks, and black wing-tip oxfords. There the similarities ended: for one of the Gallifreyans called Doctor was a he, and the other Gallifreyan also called Doctor a she. Though the two were busy repairing the TARDISes infrastructure, there was also time for a mind game, a game the Tellurians of Sol-3 called; riddles.
"My turn, my turn," the female voice said excitedly.
"O.K., your turn," the male concede.
"A box without keyhole, door or lid, yet golden treasure inside is hid!" chuckled the smaller Doctor’s voice.
"Ah, ha! An egg my little Hobbit!" responded the Doctors voice correctly. "Which reminds me, when we finish this, old girl, how about some food?"
"Good idea old boy," the little Doctor’s voice replied enthusiastically. "Then onto Earth, old thing?" her voice asked hopefully.
"Yes, even older thing." echoed his voice. "Earth!"
***
The little Doctor stood before the impressive brownstone in her favourite set of blue tweeds. The loose fitting trousers, and Prince Albert with four pockets were topped with a ten-foot, multi-hued blue scarf, and floppy black felt hat. Sunlight glistened on both the silver watch-chain hanging from her gold/blue, cross-barred waistcoat’s fob pocket; and the silver TARDIS key with its attendant chain hanging from her slender neck. Knocking firmly, on one of two, wide, oak doors, she patiently waited for a response.
A little girl with wide, dark eyes soon answered the door. She was a beautiful child, and the Gallifreyan surmised she was close to six years of age.
The little Doctor sighed deeply, had she ever been so young?
She shook her head soundly. But she could be forgiven for such a doubt. It had been over a thousand years since the Doctor, then in the first personna, had been a male of that size, and that very tender an age.
"Hullo. Is your mummy at home?" the little Doctor inquired, bowing slightly.
"Yes sir," the child nodded. "Who may I say is calling?"
"The Doctor," she said simply, taking a jelly baby from it’s wrinkled white sack, in her waistcoat pocket, placing it in the child’s hand.
"Yes sir," replied the child, her tone one of amazement and disbelief.
Very carefully her hand wrapped itself round the candy sweet.
Then the door was slammed in the little Doctor’s face.
Chuckling softly, she patiently waited for the door to re-open, anticipating her wait wouldn’t be a very long one.
"Oh Doctor, when Sara told me it was you, and gave me the jelly baby…" Sarah’s mouth dropped open. "Doctor? You’ve changed!"
"Indeed!" the little Doctor replied zestfully. And aside to herself she muttered. "And, BOY is THAT ever an understatement, Sarah Jane." Lifting her head, she grinned toothily. "Hullo, Mrs Sarah Jane
Sullivan."
Sarah grinned, nodding. "Nothing slips past you does it, Doctor?"
The little Doctor shook her head zestfully.
"And you’ve done it again, haven’t you?" she teased.
"Done what?" the little Doctor asked, innocently looking about.
"Well," Sarah pondered. "Shrunk for starters."
"Big deal," she snorted. "Both feet touch the ground."
"Yes, so they do," Sarah agreed, her eyes moving to the little Doctor’s very small oxfords.
Sarah shook her head, and such tiny feet they were too. "But do come in, Doctor," she invited.
The little Doctor grinned toothily and nodded. That basically was the plan.
***
Having brought the little Doctor to the large, comfortable sitting room, the two sat down opposite each other in matching overstuffed leather chairs. And their conversation quickly became lively animate.
With sensors active, a very curious, metal, dog-shaped, mobile computer glided into the room.
Its sounds caused the little Doctor to turn her head towards it.
"K9 Mark-III! It is you!" She squealed in delight, jumping to her feet.
Bending down she gave the computer a firm hug.
The question in K-9’s computer voice was obvious, even to Sarah.
"Master?"
The little Doctor grinned mischievously, quickly speaking to the dog in a tongue known only to the two. Explaining to him as simply as was possible that yes, she was the Doctor. And yes, his sensors were registering correctly she was a female! But, the Doctor nonetheless. And yes, it was expected K9 be a bit thrown off and confused. And, it was Rassilon himself who was responsible for the unique metamorphosis. And yes, would K9, for the present, keep the secret between the two of them.
"Affirmative ... ah . . . Master," K9 stuttered.
Sarah’s hands went impetuously to her hips, eyeing both Doctor and automaton warily. "All right, you two, Rassilon was all I got out of that exchange. What are you up to, Doctor?"
Five foot four, Sarah," the little Doctor said her face wide open and honest. "Same as you, actually," she
Blinked. "Why?"
Sarah shook her head. "Oh never mind, you’ll explain when you’re good and ready." Her eyes begin to sparkle. "Or when you can’t contain the information any longer," She sighed deeply. "Was that Gallifreyan you were speaking to K9?"
The little Doctor beamed. Turning to K9 she formally addressed ham. K9?"
"Mis ... Master?" K9 quickly caught himself.
"What language was I speaking?"
"Old High Gallifreyan, Master. Ancient language of The College of Prydon."
"Thank you. K9."
"Affirmative. Mis . . . Master." K9 caught himself once more.
The little Doctor turned her head towards Sarah. "Satisfied?"
"For the moment," she grinned. "But why is K9 stuttering?"
Without blinking the little Doctor bluffed. "Using the old dialect always seems to throw the K9s off some. Especially their syntax." Reaching down to the automaton she gently patted his boxy snout. "Sorry dawg."
"Perfectly all right, Master." K9 replied, quite proud of himself with his ability to successfully deceive his Mistress ... Sarah.
"Well, no matter." Sarah shrugged. "It’s a very beautiful language."
"Thank you, Sarah Jane," the little Doctor nodded. "Perhaps one day I’ll teach it to you."
"Is it difficult?" she ventured.
"Oh extremely so I should think," the Time Lord reported with delight. Narrowing her eyes she contemplated. "Could be that’s why so few of us ever bother with it anymore."
"Then never you mind, Doctor," Sarah shook her head. "I have fits enough with just English!"
The little Doctor teased. "The English do the same to me too, on the odd occasion."
"Dokk-tor ... you shall die, for that," Sarah promised.
The little Doctor smiled winsomely, stroking her cheek. "Quite probably."
***
"I remember, Sara Alberta," the little Doctor began, her arms wrapped lovingly round the former companion’s daughter. "When your mummy and I first met. Not only did she stow away on my TARDIS, she had the nerve to kidnap me too!" She cocked her head, "Of course, at the time, I was very happy about the whole affair."*
______________________________________________
*As told in: Doctor Who AND THE TIME WARRIOR
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***
Little Sara yawned. "Mummy, did you really do all those things?" Sara asked.
"Yes darling, and a whole lot more. You know Daddy and I have told you all about our adventures with the Doctors."
"But I thought the Doctors were like Santa or the Easter Bunny," Sara pouted.
"Well, Sara I hadn’t really thought about it, but you’re probably right!"
She opened her arms and the human child fled back to her mother.
"Do you really have two hearts?" Sara asked from the safety of her mother’s arms.
Sarah gave her daughter a firm hug.
The little Doctor chuckled. "Of all the things your Mummy and Daddy must have told you about me, that’s the thing you want most to know?
Sara nodded shyly.
The little Doctor smiled, and she entreated the human child back to her.
The child shyly obeyed.
"Be very quiet now," the little Doctor instructed. "And I will help you hear something."
Sara nodded.
Taking Sara’s left hand she placed it against her chest. "Hear ... feel that?"
She nodded.
"That is the sounds of your heart."
Sara smiled.
"The solitary beat of a very human heart," the Doctor added.
Taking Sara’s right hand, it was placed on the left side of the little Doctor’s chest.
Sara’s eyes widened.
The little Doctor then took Sara’s left hand and placed it on the right side of her chest directly over her right heart.
Sara began to giggle. "Oh. Mummy. It is different. So very different"
Sarah began to laugh. Her eyes traveled back to the Time Lord. "So, why have you come all this way, through Time and Space? Just to let my daughter count alien hearts-beats? Or perhaps Earth is being invaded by the Mandragora helix, again?"
The little Doctor shook her head. "No, not this time, Sarah. Though I will have again soon. Need to write myself a note," she said very solemnly. Standing, she began to pace, as if looking for pen and paper. Then she stuffed her hands into the pockets of her coat.
"Actually, I’ve come to ask a favour of you. As I’ve been a long time orphan, and an only child at that; would you and Harry, consent to standing in as the representative family of the groom . . . at my wedding?"
Sarah was at first dumbfounded, but just as quickly, delighted.
She jumped up excitedly.
"Oh Doctor, how wonderful!" she squealed, latching onto the little Doctor’s scarf.
In rapid-fire succession the questions tumbled from her lips. "When did all this happen? Do I know the bride? Is she Gallifreyan? Or human? Or … or an alien? Is she humanoid or …"
"Easy. Easy old girl," the little Doctor interrupted. "Steady on Sarah Jane. Give me a moment, at least, between questions, to answer you."
Sarah laughed with glee releasing the little Doctor’s scarf. Clapping her hands together she promised. "Sorry Doc, got carried away. Won’t let it happen again." Lightly Sarah crossed her heart.
The little Doctor shook her head soberly. "Wanna bet?" she asked, cocking her head, placing an index finger on the tip of her nose. Smiling warmly at the long time friend, and former traveling
Companion, she questioned the promise made with such haste.
***
Across town, Dr Harry Sullivan was just as pleased with the other Doctor’s news, though not as vocal as his wife, Sarah, had been.
"So, after all this time old man, you’re finally taking the plunge?"
The Doctor nodded, toothily grinning. "I’ve given the matter much time, thought, and consideration, Harry."
"And you still want to go through with it?" Harry teased. Suddenly Dr Sullivan’s countenance became very solemn. "Ah, now I see," he nodded very doctorly. "Though I do not see a shotgun about the place, a marriage of necessity? A favourite daughter, of some very high ranking official…"
The Doctor smiling broadly shook his head adamantly, causing Harry to cut his sentence off.
"No?" Harry began to shake his head. "This Time Lady of yours must be something very special then."
"Oh she is Harry, I assure you, she is." The Doctor’s face began to shine. "Actually, what she is, or rather more specifically, WHO she is, is the most special thing of all."
"Would you care to explain that old man?" Harry chuckled.
The Doctor cleared his throat. "If I but can, Harry of the crocus metallorum, he said, invoking Harry’s pet name. "If I but somehow can."
***
"Sarah, old girl, we’ve arrived!" Harry announced. "And have I ever brought along a surprise!"
Grinning at Harry, the Doctor’s eyes turned towards his very special companion. "Good evening Starshine," he said beaming.
Reaching for the little Doctor’s face, cupping her cheeks in his hands, he lowered his head, gently kissing her.
"Hullo 22/7, the little Doctor said dryly, recovering from the Doctor’s tender show of affection.
"22/7?" Harry asked the Doctor.
"A middle name, a derivative of Pi," the Doctor explained.
Being it was close to suppertime Harry made the obvious connection. Pie? Like in food?
"No. Pi, like in the Greek letter Pi," the Doctor snorted, glaring at the one who got him into that particular mis-understanding in the first place.
"Hullo. Harry of the crocus metallorum," the little Doctor intoned ruefully, rubbing her nose soundly.
"Doctor? It is you!" Harry realized, his hand moving to the top of his head. It was after all, only the Doctor who ever called him that. "My word! I feel just like I did the first time I stepped into the
TARDIS!"
The Doctors chuckled.
"My lady, does tend to have that sort of effect on people," the Doctor said, rubbing his nose, grinning proudly.
The little Doctor’s eyes narrowed as she poked the Doctor in his ribs.
"Oooh, nasty. Jabbing me with pointy things with nails in them. Tsk … tsk … tsk," the Doctor chastised, taking the Time Lady’s hand into his. Very gallantly he kissed the back of it. Then quite unexpectedly, nipped at her pinkie.
Harry beamed at the alien antics. "Looks like all you have been telling me is true, Doctor!"
"Of course," the Doctor snorted. "I do many things. Harry. But have you ever known me to lie?"
He thought a moment in silence. "So blatantly, anyWHO?"
Harry shook his head soundly.
"Still involved with those chaps from Geneva?" the little Doctor reinforced the newly established identity, still enfolded in the arms of her beloved.
"I already gave the Doctor the answer to that question," Harry pondered, gazing at the taller of the two Doctors.
The Doctor bent his head and began to lightly nuzzle the little Doctor’s neck.
The little Doctor giggled, gazing at Harry. She grinned, shrugging non-committibly, "We do tend to copy-cat each other, occasionally."
"Yes, I see," Harry nodded, eyeing the two who were dressed so similarity, up to and including matching gold neck cloths and white, long sleeve shirts.
The little Doctor winced. "Only hope Sarah will be as easily convinced."
Entering the room, Sarah welcomed her husband home, with a brief but affectionate kiss. Turning towards the two visitors, one, who had just turned to face her, Sarah’s eyes widened in amazement.
"Doctor?" Sarah questioned the taller of the two, stepping closer to them.
"Doctor! It is you!"
The Doctor’s mouth crooked into a semblance of a grin, wiggling the fingers of his right hand.
"Then . . . then ... who are you?" Sarah asked, pointing to the smaller Doctor being slowly rocked in the larger Doctor’s arms.
"Correct," the little Doctor said, simply. She sighed deeply.
"You know very well who I am, Sarah Jane," she asserted. "Dokk-tor!"
Sarah slowly shook her head.
The little Doctor turned towards the Doctor seeking his assistance.
The Doctor grinned toothily, very willing to comply.
Helping his companion remove the long multi-blue scarf and concealing tweed coat, with blue corduroy patches on the elbows; he turned towards
Sarah, a mischievous twinkle in his deep, blue eyes.
What was revealed to Sarah then, was a tiny waist, set off by softly flared hips and thighs that filled out the pair of slate blue tweed trousers as only a delicate, female form could.
"You’re a girl!" Sarah exclaimed.
"Well, I’d hardly get engaged to a chap!" the Doctor winced, his mouth twisting wryly, once again taking the companion into his arms.
"Oh Doctor, what a tease," Sarah laughed at her own gullibility. "Your bride-to-be! She’s adorable." Turning to the little Doctor she added. "And very sneaky. She had me convinced."
The little Doctor’s face was lively animate. "Convinced of what, Sarah Jane?"
"That you were the Doctor."
"But I am the Doctor, Sarah!" she insisted. "The real and true seventh personna of Dokk-tor."
Thumping the back of her head on the companion’s chest, she smiled, looking up into the Doctor’s intense, fathomless eyes. "This is The Clone," she informed ominously.
Not missing such an opportunity the Doctor bit the tip of the little Doctor’s upturned nose.
Gritting her teeth in silent exasperation Sarah looked first at Harry, then to the Doctor, and finally towards the little Doctor. All three were looking at her with the same expectant expression. Obviously all three were in cahoots.
"Would one of you please tell me what’s going on?" Sarah pleaded.
The Doctor removed one arm from round the little Doctors slender waist, and slowly guided her to one of the living rooms couches.
Sitting beside his companion, wrapping his arms protectively about her, the Doctor began. "Sarah, do we ever have a double-truck advertisement for you!"
***
In the kitchen, helping with desert, the little Doctor continued to update Sarah on her lives, since they’d last been together in Rassilon’s tomb, on Gallifrey.
A ring of the telephone sent Sarah scurrying after it.
"Yes, yes Aunt Lavina, you can? Fantastic! Johnson will bring Sara to you, tomorrow after school. How long? Just a minute. Doctor, when can you have us back?"
"Five minutes before you left," she half-promised.
"Oh no, not that old dodge. I want a for real, specific date and time."
"OK. Sunday, January 20, 2003 the little Doctor stated flatly, tugging on her waistcoat."
"Good enough," Sarah decided. Turning back to the phone she addressed it. "Aunt Lavina, yes, we’ll pick up little Sara, Sunday. Love ya. Bye."
***
Returning to the living room the ladies sat the deserts on the table, before taking a seat next to their particular companions.
Wrapping his arms round the little Doctor, the Doctor growled huskily.
The little Doctor sighed deeply. "Oh, Pi, my precious, future perfect, Prydonian," she intoned with mock solemnity, leaning back against his ever protecting, enfolding arms. Every so slowly she closed her eyes.
"P. P. P.? Carrying alliteration a bit far tonight, are you not, Bit?" he tenderly chastised, nipping at the earring on her ear.
The little Doctor shrugged, her eyes slowly opening. "Suppose so, but do you truly mind?"
"No, darling, not at all," the Doctor shook his head. Very gently he began to stroke the side of her face with his cheek, taking time to lightly kiss her brow.
The little Doctor sighed again. To say she was happy beyond words was an understatement.
"Doesn’t anyone want desert?" Sarah pouted her chef’s culinary efforts apparently being ignored.
"No thank you Sarah," the Doctor said politely. Turning to the little Doctor he began to make loud chewing noises against her neck. "I’ll just devour my companion."
"Not in front of the children!" Harry balked quickly covering Sarah’s eyes.
"Of course," the Doctors spoke as one, in total agreement. Suddenly the two were a flurry of movement, diving towards the plates of raspberry topped cheesecake.
Sarah screamed, moving out of the way. "Look out Harry! The aliens appear to be rather ravenous tonight!"
Harry agreed. "And obviously, old girl in more ways than just one."
The Doctor’s grin widened. "Just attempting to making up for all that lost time. Harry," he insisted, diving into his slice of the cheesecake.
***
The Doctor noisily put the stack of desert dishes in the kitchen sink.
For the first time that evening, he and Sarah were alone.
"Tell me Sarah, honestly, what do you think of her?" He turned to face the former companion, his blue eyes electric.
"Who?" Sarah teased.
"Landed, fair dues, after what the Doctor and I did to you." Holding up both index fingers, before his face the Doctor accentuated. "Theriously!"
Sarah thought in silence, for a very long moment. Delighting wholly in the fact her hesitation was nothing short of cruel and inhuman punishment, for the tall Gallifreyan standing before her.
"All right. Doctor, theriously," Sarah finally spoke, grasping his fingertips. "If she does everything in life the way she loves you: with bright, enthusiastic energy and an irrepressible spirit…"
"Oh! She does, Sarah, she most assuredly does," the Doctor interrupted, breaking free from her grasp. "I assure you, she does," he insisted, crossing both his hearts.
Sarah grinned. "Then be prepared for a very short, but very glorious deliriously wonderful life!
The Doctor beamed. Further contemplation of Sarah’s words, started his head nodding, very solemnly.
How could Sarah possibly know about Gallifreyan cool-down?
***
A small entourage, comprised of two Tellurians and two Gallifreyans, entered the cream colored, brightly lit, main Console Room of the TARDIS.
The TARDISes console hummed softly in the background, as if it was welcoming Sarah and Harry, home.
"And where is this garden wedding to be? Sarah asked curiously, eyeing two empty hall trees standing side by side. One stand was brass, the second, oak painted white.
"On the planet, Eye of Orion, thought by some to be the most tranquil place in the Universe," Munchkin said entering the Console Room on silent, elfin feet. K9 trundled in nosily behind her.
Slowly removing her hat, scarf, and coat, she smiled at the two companions and hung her outer garments on the oak stand.
Sarah smiled, of course, two Doctors, therefore two coat racks needed!
"Now," the Doctor replied, grinning widely, duplicating his bride-elect’s most recent actions, hanging his outerwear on the brass stand. "That takes care of the groom’s family. Time now to locate the bride’s."
The Doctor bent over the wide control console, beginning to punch in the coordinates for Australia.
"And WHO would they be?" Harry ventured.
"Tegan and Jovanka!" the Doctors said as one.
"But Tegan’s no longer on Earth, Doctor," Harry said simply.
"She’s not?" the Doctor replied puzzled, up-righting himself from the console.
"Where then?" asked the little Doctor practically, bending over to cancel out the Doctor’s partial string of coordinates.
"She went off to a place called … Trydon with a young man called … Turlough," Sarah said hesitatingly, trying to remember the exact details.
"She did?" The Doctor chortled loudly in disbelief. "But she can’t stand the chap!"
The little Doctor rubbed her nose and snuffled merrily. "Why, you of all people know that ‘love conquers all’, Doctor."
"I do? I do?" the Doctor scoffed.
"No, not ‘I do’ just quite yet, Doctor," the little Doctor lightly rebuffed him. "Not just yet, my very special, toothsome love," she said tenderly, stroking the Doctor’s aquiline nose. "When we get to The Eye."
"Perhaps so," he agreed. "But . . . but . . . Tegan and Turlough!" the Doctor emphasized, once again launching off into an uproarious display.
The little Doctor sighed deeply. "If you would please stop all that guffawing and chortling, and fall about laughing, I could just set the coordinates for Trydon," she scolded, trying to keep all the complex Time/Space numbers fixed in her head. "And we will be able to see the bride is equally represented, in this affair on The Eye."
The Doctor’s hand went to his mouth drawing it up into a bow. Successfully stifling himself, he nodded very solemnly. His eyes remaining steadfastly glued to the very irate companion, closest to his hearts: for if he dare look at either Harry or Sarah, who were both softly chuckling in the background…
END CHAPTER ONE
