PARENTHOOD
A/N: This takes place right after Trials of a Time Lord: Exile. Chapter Seventy Walking down the hallway, Jamie stopped in the doorway to Zoe's room and smiled while his fifteen year old daughter smoothed down the duvet on her bed. Hanging above her bed was the painting of her and Hamish and Jamie sadly smiled. "Are you alright, Daddy?" Zoe asked as she walked closer and Jamie nodded, brushing the fringe out of his eyes. "I still cannae believe you still have that," he said as he pointed to the painting and she turned, looking at it. "I kept it so I'd remember him," she said then sighed. "It's so odd that he's been dead for centuries yet I remember him like it's only been days since I last saw him." "Aye, I feel the same way," Jamie said when she took his hands and softly squeezed them. "Daddy, I never wanted tae ask but how old was he when he...died?" she said then saw a shadow of sadness cover his face and he sighed. "He was..." Jamie said then closed his eyes and she felt his hands trembling. "He was thirty-two." "How old was he when we met him?" "He was twenty-five." "How did it happen?" she asked and his hearts felt heavy in his chest. "He was killed in an explosion," he said softly and saw the tears in her eyes. Sliding his arms around her, he held her and sent love into her mind while kissing the top of her head. He looked at the painting while Hamish smiled at him when a sharp pain hit him between his eyes and he slid to the floor, taking Zoe with him. "Daddy?" she asked, sitting up and stroked his hair. "Jamie, can you hear me?" Grace said and her voice sounded like it was under water. His eyes slowly fluttered open as he looked around and noticed that he was in his bedroom. Jenna sat next to him as she kissed the top of his head and Grace waved a pen light in his eyes. "Welcome back." "Did I go somewhere?" he asked as Jenna light smacked his chest and softly smiled. "Where's Zoe?" "Right here," Zoe said when she ran into the room and crawled onto the bed, sitting on his legs. "Are you alright, Daddy?" "Aye, but my head hurts a bit." "Does anything feel numb?" Grace asked and he lightly shook his head. "Well, you are bed bound for the next few days and I'll not take no for an answer." "But what aboot Donny's recital?" he asked, looking up at Jenna. "He says it's ok if you skip this one," she said and he sighed, closing his eyes. Jenna sent love into his mind as he drifted off to sleep but something still felt wrong. "Zoe? Wake up," Jamie whispered while he shook her and Zoe opened her eyes. The night table lamp was on as she wiped the sleep out of her eyes and sat up under the duvet. "Daddy, what's wrong?" she whispered and he looked up at the painting, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Do you remember when I told you that meeting Hamish had tae happen?" he asked and she nodded. "Well, I never figured out why until this afternoon." "What do you mean?" "It has tae do with the explosion that killed him. You see, they never did find any bodies after the explosion." "Then how do you ken that he died?" "That's the thing, I dinnae ken. All that was left was a big hole in the ground." "So there's a chance that he's still alive?" "Only one way tae find out, Jeelie Bean," he said with a smile and she softly laughed. "It's been a long time since you called me that!" she teased and he nodded. "Get up an' dressed then meet me in the TARDIS," he said as she nodded and he got up, leaving the room. (Theta's universe) Inverness, Scotland Hamish softly breathed when the door to the bedroom opened and a tiny pair of feet moved across the floor, heading for the bed. Rolling onto his side, Hamish sighed when someone crawled onto the bed and started to gently poke his nose with a small finger. "Daddy?" four year old Zoe McCrimmon asked as she kept poking his nose and Hamish half smiled. Lucy was right about him being afraid to have children because of his blindness but both Zoe and her two month old sister, Moira, were sighted and he wiggled under the duvet but didn't wake up. "G'way. Sleeping," he said then started to softly snore and she giggled. "But ye're talking tae me," she said, lifting his right eyelid up and he gently moved her hand away. He and Lucy had explained that he was blind but it didn't stop Zoe from opening his eyes every morning and she opened his eyelid again. "I'm talking in m'sleep," he said as she let go then gently butted her forehead against his. "Hm, who let the goat in here?" "Come on, Daddy, Mommy says it's time tae get up," she said as he sighed and opened his sightless eyes. "Och, if I must," he sighed and moved the duvet back. Zoe scrambled off the bed while he got up and she ran to the other side of the bed, taking his hand. "Am I that old that ye have tae help me up?" "No, just want tae," she said with a grin and he wrapped his fingers around hers then headed for the door. She handed him the stick as he nodded and they left the room. The wheezing and grinding sound filled the air as the TARDIS materialized in the alleyway and the door opened. Jamie and Zoe walked outside as he closed the doors then took her hand and they walked down the alleyway. The TARDIS changed into a hay wagon filled with hay as they walked along and Jamie looked straight ahead, feeling his hearts thumping hard in his chest. He was using the imager to hide his appearance but couldn't use his Robert Grey disguise because Grey had a little girl the last time anyone saw him. Jamie has decided on a man with dark brown hair and eyes but wore the same clothes and was his height. Before he left, he explained to the Doctor, Amato and Duer about what was going on and they scanned the vortex, finding a large time bubble in his timeline. The last time the Doctor saw a time bubble was they had to remove Frazer and his family from the past and the Doctor gave Jamie the ok to go rescue Hamish and his family. "Are you sure this is the right date?" she asked and Jamie nodded. The day of the explosion was embed in his mind as they walked out of the alleyway and headed down the cobblestone street. "You have tae understand something, Jeelie Bean. The English has decided that Scottish children and the children of the English settlers were tae be taught in the same schools an' were tae learn how to be British. This didnae go well with the people of Inverness an' a lot of schools were either burned tae the ground or..." Jamie said as she nodded and squeezed his hand. "Is that how it happened? The school Hamish was teaching in was blown up?" "No, see, it wasnae just the schools..." "Are yos saying that they blew up the teacher's homes as well?" she asked with wide eyes and Jamie sighed, nodding. "That's disgusting." "Imagine how I felt when I had tae bury four coffins a few days after the blast." "Did they ever find out who did it?" "Aye, now what we need tae to do is find Hamish an'..." Jamie said when he saw Hamish coming down the street and Zoe smiled. The staff clicked softly on the cobblestones when Hamish came closer and nearly crashed into Jamie. "Och, sorry," he said when he reached out and Jamie took hold of his hand. "Dad, is that you?" "Aye," Jamie said and Hamish smiled. Slowly, Jamie placed his fingers against Hamish's temple and closed his eyes. Hamish blinked again when he suddenly could see and Jamie smiled at him after appearing in his head. "Och, where is my wee Zoe?" he asked as Jamie let go while Hamish reached his hand out and Zoe took his hand. "Hello," she said and he frowned. "What is wrong with yer voice?" he asked and she gently hugged him. "And when did you get taller?" "I'm fifteen now," she whispered in his ear and he hugged her. "Och, where has the time gone?" he whispered and she giggled. He let go of her then reached his hand out and Jamie took his hand. "So, what brings ye here?" "We came tae warn you," Jamie asked and Hamish title his head to one side. "If it's aboot the bombings an' the fires then ye can save yer breath. Ye already talked tae me an' Lucy aboot quitting. I dinnae care a lick if the wee ones are Scottish or nae, I am going tae teach them. Lucy feels the same," Hamish said and Jamie sighed. "Hamish, think aboot Zoe and Moira," Jamie said with a concern tone to his voice and Zoe looked at Hamish. Jamie had told her about them as Hamish tapped the end of the stick on the ground and frowned. "Ye dinnae have tae remind me aboot them. I ken that there's a risk but I cannae stop doing something that I ken is right," Hamish said with a sigh and Jamie nodded. "Is Lucy home?" Jamie asked. "Aye, she's been home since Moira was born." "Then let's go see her. Mebbe I can talk some sense into the pair of you," Jamie said as Hamish grinned then took Zoe's arm in his and they headed down the cobblestones. Lucy opened the door after she saw Hamish returning with two strangers and Zoe smiled at her. "Hamish?" she asked as he clicked the stick on the steps and walked toward her, kissing her cheek. "Lucy, this is Alexander Cullen an' his daughter, Victoria. Alex is one of the new teachers they sent from Edinburgh an' I was wondering if it's alright for them to lodge here until they find a house of their own," he said as she looked at them and Jamie smiled. "We left our things at the inn, Misses. Can we come in?" Jamie asked and she nodded her head, stepping back to let them in. The main hall of the small, two story house was nicely furnished as Zoe looked around then saw a small girl sitting on the stairs. She was wearing a blue blouse and skirt and her hair was tied back with a matching ribbon. "Daddy, who are they?" Little Zoe asked and Hamish smiled at her. "This is Professor Cullen an' his daughter. Come down an' say hello," he said as Little Zoe walked down the stairs and looked up at Jamie. Jamie's hearts thumped hard in his chest while he looked down at his granddaughter and softly smiled. "An' what is yer name?" he asked. "My name is Zoe Emily an' I'm four!" she said and Jamie nodded. "Would ye like some tea, Professor," Lucy asked as he looked at her and nodded. Lucy headed for the kitchen as Little Zoe tugged on Zoe's hand and she looked down at her. "Want tae see my wee sister?" she asked as Zoe looked at Jamie and he nodded. Taking the small hand in hers, Zoe followed Little Zoe up the stairs and Jamie sighed. "Right," Hamish said as he held his hand out and Jamie took it, looking at him. "Mind telling me the truth, now that the ladies are gone?" "I'm nae sure that ye'll believe me," Jamie said and Hamish softly laughed. "The fact that I'm standing here with my father, who just happens tae be in Glasgow an' is visiting my sister at the moment, an' my sister, who isnae born yet, is upstairs seeing her niece makes me believe nearly anything ye tell me," he said with a grin. "Let's go into the parlor an' I'll tell ye," Jamie said as he hooked Hamish's arm around his and they walked down the hallway. Hamish let go of his arm when they walked into the parlor and Jamie smiled at the modest furniture. Hamish sat down on the couch as Jamie stood in front of him and placed his hands behind his back. Trying to figure out the right words to say, Jamie looked out at the window behind the couch when he saw someone moving by the window and blinked. "Are ye expecting anyone?" "Uh, no," Hamish said as he stood up just as Lucy walked into the room, carrying a tray with a teapot, some cups, a sugar bowl and some tea biscuits. "Lucy, were we expecting anyone today?" "No," Lucy said when Jamie walked to her and placed the tray on the table. "Zoe, get the girls an' come down here," Jamie thought as he looked at the window and two more figures walked by the window. "Aye, Daddy, what's going on?" she thought. "Just get down here!" he thought then removed the imager and Lucy gasped. "Hamish, he turned into yer father!" she said and Hamish walked to her, holding her against him. "That's because it is my father," Hamish said and she looked up at him. Jamie sighed when Zoe walked into the room and held Moira in her arms. Little Zoe was next to her as they walked to Jamie and Lucy looked at them. "I dinnae have time tae explain but I do need tae ken if ye had any deliveries lately," Jamie said as Hamish let go of Lucy and walked toward him, the stick thumping on the carpet. "Aye, several kegs of whiskey were delivered tae the house a few days ago," Lucy said as Jamie looked at Hamish and frowned. "Where is it?" Jamie asked and Lucy took his hand, leading him into the hallway. They went down the hallway when they came to the basement door then, suddenly, the sound of broken glass filled the air and Little Zoe screamed. "Right, let's get everyone into the cellar!" Lucy opened the door when several men came in front the kitchen and Zoe quickly led Little Zoe down the stairs. Lucy helped Hamish as Jamie came in last and barely had time to shut then bolt the door when one of the men tried to follow them. "Daddy, what's going on?" Little Zoe shouted as the men pounded on the door and Jamie looked at the barrels that were lined up along the walls of the cellar and stood in the middle of the room. "Blimey," he whispered when he reached into his pocket and took out his sonic screwdriver. Jenna teased him because it looked like the recorder that Duer used in his second life and Jamie pushed the button, scanning the barrels. "What is that?" Lucy demanded, looking at the sonic screwdriver. "Never mind that," Jamie said as he placed the sonic screwdriver away. "What we are is in a lot of trouble." Little Zoe screamed again as the men pounded on the door and Zoe hushed Moira, who had started crying. "What sort of trouble," Hamish asked as he walked toward Jamie and he took hold of Hamish's hand. "We're surrounded by barrels filled with explosives an' those men up there are probably here tae kill us." "But why would they do they want tae kill us?" Lucy demanded, taking Moira from Zoe and rocked her. "Because of the school," Hamish said as she walked to him and he placed his arm around her. "Blast, yer father was right. We should have quit. Now it's too late an' we're going tae die," Lucy said when Jamie removed something from his pocket and smiled. "I dinnae think so," he said while Zoe looked at what was in his hand and smiled. "Is that Pa-paw's Stattenheim remote control?" she asked. "No, it's mine!" Jamie said when the pounding stopped and they heard footsteps running out of the house. "That doesnae sound good." "If they're leaving then they're nae going tae kill us," Lucy said. "No, it means they're leaving so they can kill us!" Jamie said then put two fingers in his mouth, whistles and pushed the button. Lucy and Little Zoe jumped when the TARDIS materialized in front of them and Hamish smiled. Lucy looked like she was going to faint while Jamie placed the remote control away then gently cupped her face in her hands. "Now, Lucy, I am going tae ask ye tae take a big leap of faith an' follow me. Can ye do that?" "Aye," Lucy said with a nod of her head and Jamie walked to the doors, unlocking them. Holding the doors open, he watched Zoe lead the others inside then followed them, closing the doors behind him. After the TARDIS dematerialized, the house exploded in a bright fireball and a large cloud of smoke filled the air. (Two weeks later) New Gallifrey Hamish stood near the desk as he gently tapped his fingers and tried to calm down. His mind drifted back to the day he and his family met the Doctor, Duer, Amato and their extended families and he was thrilled to finally meet Namid. He was surprised that she wasn't blind anymore and she told him how she got her sight back. Grace and Martha ran tests to see if there was any way he could see again but they told him that he wouldn't be able to until after he regenerated. The Doctor had given him the crystals and told him to wait until Moira was two or three before changing her into the Time Child. Jamie told him that they didn't have to change but the idea of being a Time Lord sounded like a great idea. "Professor McCrimmon, your class is ready," the voice from his computer said as he smiled, turned and picked up the stick. The Doctor had gotten permission for Lucy and Hamish to teach at the academy as Hamish walked to the door and the door hissed open. The stick clicked on the tile flooring as he walked inside the classroom and Zoe smiled at him. Hamish was wearing a long white robe with gold trim and Gallifreyan script was on the back of the robe. He walked to the podium when he placed the stick against it and placed his hands behind his back. "Good morning," he said and they answered in kind. "Now, I'm sure you all noticed that I walk with a stick. That is because I'm blind. So, if you have a problem with it, the door is behind you." He waited while listening to hear if anyone got up then left the room and smiled, standing a little straighter. "Right, now my name is Professor McCrimmon an' if you treat me with respect, I can be a very good friend as well as a teacher," he said when Christopher held his hand up and David lightly pulled it down. "What if we're not respectful?" David asked and Hamish sighed, giving them a stern look. "Then I'll be your worst nightmare!" he said with a soft growl to his voice and Christopher, David and Chaska sank in their seat. "So, if you'll be kind enough tae open your books tae Chapter Seven, we can get started." The students quickly opened their books while Zoe showed Hamish what was going on and he smiled.
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