EVERYTHING HAS ITS TIME
Chapter Three The TARDIS landed inside Francine's house. Francine, Martha and Mickey walked up to it and waited. The door opened and everyone stepped outside. "He's younger," Mickey said, looking at the Doctor. "Yeah, you look good," Martha replied. "What are you talking about? Where's the Doctor?" Francine said. The Doctor grinned when Martha and Mickey pointed to him before they embraced Sarah Jane. "That's not the Doctor, the Doctor is tall and thin and has out of control hair and beady eyes," Francine said. "I did not have out of control hair," the Doctor said as everyone except Francine howled with laughter. "And my eyes were not beady. I liked my eyes." "Really? Now I'm curious to see a photo of you and see what you looked like," Amy said. Martha excused herself, telling them she could show them a photo of his tenth life. While she ran upstairs, the Doctor quickly explained what had happened to him. Francine frowned when he explained regeneration, completely confused when he told her he had a whole new body but she decided not to question it and accept it was the Doctor. "Jack wants to come as well," Mickey said. "He's at Torchwood and said to meet him there." "He's back at Torchwood? I thought he left," the Doctor said. "He did. But he was missing Gwen and Rhys and came back for a visit and both of them convinced him to come back," Mickey said. "I think he missed working with them and he realized he had a duty to protect the Earth, same as you." The Doctor nodded. Martha came back down the stairs, carrying a picture frame. Everyone gathered around her while she showed them the photo. It was her and the tenth Doctor in a closeup, their faces close together while they smiled. "Wow, you do have beady eyes," Amy said. "I do not!" the Doctor said while everyone laughed. "Only joking," Amy said, patting his back. "You looked good." "I have a few photos of him during his third and fourth lives but they're back at my house," Sarah Jane said. "I've kept them all these years and I treasure them." "So…you and Mickey live with your mum?" the Doctor asked Martha. "No, we have a flat in the City. We were just visiting with mum when you phoned me," Martha said. They chatted for a few more minutes before they said goodbye to Francine and got back into the TARDIS. Francine stepped back and folded her arms over her chest while she watched the TARDIS dematerialize. Jack was chatting with Gwen and Rhys when they heard the familiar wheezing. "Well, let's see what he looks like now," Jack said as he and Gwen and Rhys got up from their chairs. The TARDIS materialized twenty feet behind them and all of them waited patiently while the door opened. Everyone filed out and Jack looked them over before he pointed at the Doctor. "Gotta be you. Who else would wear tweed and a bow tie," he said to him. "Bow ties are cool," the Doctor said. Jack gazed at him, admiring his new body before he turned his attention to Sarah Jane. He enveloped her in his arms, holding her tightly while he tried not to cry. "You still look good, I must say," he said to Sarah Jane. "Thanks. You do as well," she said. Jack rubbed her arm and let her hug Gwen and Rhys while the Doctor introduced Amy and Rory and the teenagers to him. Several minutes later, Gwen and Rhys said goodbye to Sarah Jane and wished everyone a good time before they got back into the TARDIS. Jack's mouth dropped open when he saw the interior. "Whoa, I see you're not the only thing that got a makeover," Jack said. "Yes, well, the TARDIS got damaged during my last regeneration and she had to do a complete overhaul," the Doctor replied. "Now…we were thinking Italian? Is that okay with everyone?" "I'll eat dog poo, just as long as I can spend time with this lovely lady," Jack said, putting her arm around Sarah Jane. "Fine. We'll eat Italian and then we'll stop at a pet shop and purchase a dog so Jack can eat his poo," the Doctor said while everyone laughed. "Okay, everyone, let's give Sarah Jane a great big, happy sendoff and make this a day of smiles and laughter, yeah?" Everyone nodded and the Doctor slapped his hands together. "Right. Let's go to the restaurant then," he said, running up the steps to the console. While he programmed in the coordinates, Jack chatted with Sarah Jane, Martha and Mickey. Jack's mouth dropped when Sarah Jane told him what happened to Donna and Rose and he fought to keep his anger in check at what the Doctor did to Rose. Sarah Jane noticed the anger and put her hand on his arm. "Jack, he did what he had to do," Sarah Jane said softly. "He didn't have to do that to Rose," Jack hissed back. "Rose came back for him and he dumps her back in the other universe with that clone. Didn't he think that her friends might want her here instead?" "Jack, time and a place, yeah?" Martha said softly as she put her hand on his arm. "Let's concentrate on having a fun night with Sarah Jane and bring this up another time." Jack nodded and Sarah Jane smiled and embraced him. Jack kissed her cheek and rubbed her back before she let go. They watched Sarah Jane walk over to Luke while Jack put his arms around Martha and Mickey. Sarah Jane tapped Luke on the shoulder and asked to speak with him alone. Luke nodded and they walked out of the console room. When they were out of earshot of everyone else, Sarah Jane stopped him and turned him around so he was facing her. "I spoke with the Doctor," she said. "And he's going to let you come with him after I'm gone. He's going to take K9 and Mister Smith and clean up my house so there's no trace of any alien tech or anything relating to what we did. I trust the Doctor will help you complete your education and I want you to listen to him and help him if he needs it, okay?" Luke nodded. "He…he can't save you?" Luke said. "He could. But I don't want him to," Sarah Jane said. "This is meant to be and I can't ask him to play God and save my life. This is my decision so please respect it and don't beg him to save me. He's already offered and I told him no. Okay?" Tears came to Luke's eyes and he nodded. Sarah Jane embraced him and rubbed his back. "I will always be with you," she said. "I will always watch over you and Rani and Clyde and Maria and all my friends. I love you all and I'll always be in your heart. And to be truthful, I am looking forward to Heaven and seeing Harry and the Brigadier again. Not to mention it'll be like taking a long, restful holiday. And…someday, I'll be reunited with all of you. So don't cry. Have fun tonight. You and Rani and Clyde need to laugh and have some fun, okay?" Luke nodded and she kissed his forehead before the two of them went back into the console room. When they went back inside, the Doctor waved Sarah Jane over and pointed to his monitor. "Message for you from the TARDIS," he said. "Really?" Sarah Jane said. The Doctor nodded and smiled and pointed to the monitor while everyone else gathered around her. Sarah Jane walked in front of the Doctor and he put his hands on her shoulder while she read what was on the monitor. Sarah Jane I know what is happening to you and I wanted to tell you that I've always enjoyed having you in here with me. I love all of the Doctor's friends and companions but you were one of my favorites. I will miss you, my friend, and I will also watch over Luke after you are gone. TARDIS. The Doctor came up behind her and embraced her from behind when Sarah Jane held her hand over her mouth and began to cry. Everyone came in closer and surrounded her with their love and support while Sarah Jane smiled at them. The Doctor chuckled when the TARDIS flashed her lights on and off and she felt a tickle in her mind and could sense the TARDIS's love for her. "Thank you. Thank you all," Sarah Jane said. Everyone kissed her cheeks and then backed up so the Doctor could have control of the console. After a few more minutes, the TARDIS landed and powered down. "Right," the Doctor said to them, "strap on your feedbags everyone and let's have some food and fun at the Piccadilly Italian Restaurant."
Back Home Doctor Who Main Page Next