PARENTHOOD
Chapter Fifty Four Doc walked towards the front door of the house he shared with the Doctor along with his friend, Hamor. Since coming to live on New Gallifrey, he had met many of the Doctor's friends and became best friends with a few of them. Hamor was his closest friend. A former pupil of the Doctor's at the academy, he was far younger than Doc but he liked the youth's creativity, enthusiasm and spirit. Hamor was about six feet tall with a lean, slightly muscular build. He had long jet black hair that was pulled back into a ponytail that Doc knew would never have passed muster with the Time Lords back on Gallifrey. He also sported a couple of hoop earrings in his left ear and a goatee. His eyes were deep blue and he had a chiseled face that more than once had made women swoon over him. It amused Doc when they went out and women would try to chat him up. Sadly, most never talked to him beyond polite conversation but Doc figured that's because he resembled the Doctor who was not only highly respected but married. It didn't bother him; he wasn't ready for a relationship yet anyway. One of Hamor's special subjects at the Academy was botany along with art and he used those to become a landscaper for others. Mostly he worked for private homes but occasionally he was commissioned to do large scale things and that's what he was doing now. The City wanted him to do a garden and maze and he enlisted his friend to help him since he wanted to do a Tudor style garden. He knew Doc had better knowledge of the Tudor era than he did so the two of them collaborated and drew up plans for an enormous flower garden with two hedge mazes. They were coming back from having a drink at the pub, walking along and talking when suddenly Doc noticed several strangers going into his house, several strangers that didn't look like they were there for a pleasant conversation. "Hamor, see that? Something's wrong," Doc said. "I don't know who those people are but..." He felt his daughter's fear seconds before he heard her scream. Both he and Hamor broke into a run and burst through the open door. To Doc's horror, Rain, Namid, Sokanon, Awinita and Nelak were on their knees in the middle of a group of guards, their hands on their heads while the guards aimed their blasters at them. Rage tore through Doc's mind. "WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS? WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY HOUSE WITH MY FAMILY?" he screamed at them. Zod stepped forward with a couple of guards. "You are the Doctor?" he said. "I am," he said, not seeing Rain's warning look. He and Namor gasped as the guards thrust their blasters in their faces. "Doctor, you are under arrest," Zod said. "On what charge?" Doc demanded. "On breaking the marriage contract between you and Princess Thelopian. You will come with us and you will be married, by force if necessary, to her Royal Highness and all of these people shall be sold into slavery as part of your punishment. Doc let out an enraged yell and lunged at him. Everyone gasped when one of the guards punched him hard in the face and punched him again when he reeled back into the other guard's arms. Namor started to fight but Doc urged him to stop before he got hurt. One of the guards surrounding Doc's family came over and used his blaster to herd him over and make him join the others. "Everyone stand!" Zod barked at the group in the ring of guards. "Guards, take them away! We'll take them back to the ship and if any of you resist, we'll kill you!" "Mummy," Namid whispered fearfully. "Hold my hand, baby," Rain said as she took hers and Sokanon's hands before they walked with the others towards the door. (Twenty minutes later...) "Rain!" the Doctor said as he burst through the garage door. He stood stock still as he looked around the room and noticed his front door was hanging wide open. The others came in behind him. "Mummy? Sissies?" Chaska said fearfully before he broke into a run and ran through the house screaming for them. Rain, where are you? The Doctor thought to her as he and the others went through the house. What's happened? He could feel his wife's pain and anguish and he mentally reached out to stroke her mind along with the minds of his family. Rain, talk to me, what's happened? He thought to her. Oh God, she finally managed to say. Oh God, you have to come here as soon as you can. You have to save Namid. The Doctor blanched at that and he could tell by Alan and Dex freezing in place that they had heard it too. Why? What's happening to Namid? The Doctor forced himself to think. It took a moment before Rain could reply back. They...they arrested Doc when he came through the door. They thought he was you. They have me, the girls, Nelak, Awinita and Namor. They've put us in separate cells and they're going to force Doc to wed the princess and enslave us but...oh God, they were looking us over and noticed Namid was blind and they told us that she was a reject and here...here they... She trailed off for a moment. They what? The Doctor thought. They incinerate them, Rain finally thought. Alan and Dex grabbed ahold of the Doctor as he staggered back, his face ashen. The Doctor fought with all his being to compose himself and keep himself from panicking. How long has it been since you were taken, he finally thought. About a half hour maybe, not long. We're on their ship heading back to their homeworld but they're gonna incinerate Namid now. Oh God, our baby, they're gonna burn her alive! The Doctor pulled free of Alan and Doc and with an enraged yell, he ran for his TARDIS as Alan struggled to keep up with him. By the time he reached the console, he could barely see through the tears in his eyes. "Brother, wait, let me go with you. Don't go in there half cocked," Alan said, running up the ramp. "I'll make them pay if Namid dies. I swear I will!" the Doctor bellowed. "If they harm one hair on my family's head, they will suffer!" "Yes, but..." "No, Alan, no buts," the Doctor said. "Not this time. They're about to burn alive one of the most precious, innocent people in this universe and there'll be no mercy if she dies. I don't care if they beg, plead, fall to their knees and grovel, they will suffer if my daughter dies!" "Father." The Doctor looked over and saw Dex enter with Chaska. "Daddy, will Sissy be alright?" Chaska asked. The Doctor ran to him and embraced him. "Yes, because I'm not going to let this happen. I'm going to rescue them." "Can I help?" Chaska asked. "No, son, it's too dangerous." "Can I come if I stay in the TARDIS?" Chaska asked. The Doctor considered that and nodded. "Yes, the TARDIS is strong enough to protect you and I don't have time to find someone to babysit for you. I assume you're coming as well, Dex." "Yes. I want to help you." "Okay, if you promise to stay in here, Chas, I'll let you come, yeah?" He nodded and the Doctor gave him a quick kiss on the forehead. While he was doing that, Alan closed the door and quickly powered up the TARDIS. The Doctor ran a scan and breathed a sigh of relief when the TARDIS detected their energy signatures. "Setting a course for the Frelonian ship and Heaven help them if they do anything to Namid before we get there," he said as the TARDIS dematerialized.
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