Fic : Second Chance (PG) | Sarah Jane & Co. | 2/?
This is happy happy posting. Brilliant day, so sharing the love!
Title : Second Chance
Author : Jen
Rating : PG at the moment, possibly higher in later parts.
Summary : Sarah would give anything to see Peter one last time. With a little help from the Universe and the Doctor, she may just get her wish.
Spoilers : fair game for everything up to and including "The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith" from S3.
Part 1
Holding the mug in one hand he gently rapped on the bedroom door with the other.
"Sarah? It's me. You decent?" He tried to be light hearted but it didn't work. Very carefully he opened the door and scanned the room. She was stood by the window, staring out. "Your tea."
She didn't move. "I don't even know where he's buried."
"I'm sure we can find out."
"We?" This time she did turn around.
"You really think I'm going to let you go through this by yourself?" he asked. He put the mug down on the dresser and walked over to her.
"Most people get to say goodbye at the funeral."
"Do you want to go?" he offered.
"I thought about asking you," she admitted, "but it would raise too many questions."
"We'll stand back. They won't see us, I promise."
Pursing her lips together she struggled to remain composed. "I can't. I want to but I can't."
"OK," he said gently. "Whatever you want."
"I want to... go for a walk."
~~
He'd started off thinking that this was a very human trait. Just walking with no idea of direction or destination, but as they took turn after turn he realised just how much like his own life this was. Going wherever you wanted, acting on whims and interest and for no other reason than because you could. They ended up at the local cemetery ("Well, it's somewhere to start," she'd said) and he waited by a bench as she walked up and down the rows of newer graves. A couple of times she stopped, read the headstone, but moved on. It was only when she'd stood in front of the black marble slab for almost five minutes that he knew she'd found it.
He walked towards her but stopped at the end of the row. This was her moment, her time, and he was not going to intrude.
When she was ready she joined him, her eyes puffy and blood shot in that tell-tale way.
"Take me back," she said, and for moment he wondered if she was asking him to do that literally. Choosing instead to ignore the interpretation, he took her hand in his and they began the walk back to Bannerman Road.
~~
"If you could save them, would you?"
They had walked for nearly twenty minutes in silence so her question confused him a little.
"The Time Lords. Gallifrey. If you could save them, would you?"
"I... don't know," he admitted. "Maybe."
"Maybe?"
"If I could take you back, Sarah, I would. In an instant. You know that."
"I know."
"Changing time is... difficult. The Universe protects herself..."
Sarah slipped her hand into his. "I know," she said. "I just wish it didn't hurt so much."
The Doctor let go of her hand and put his arm around her shoulders. "That's life I'm afraid."
"Life sucks."
There was a second's silence before they both burst into giggles.
"Yes, yes it does," he agreed.
"I've been hanging around the kids too long."
"It's fantastic you know? Seeing you with those three. I meant what I said, they're brilliant."
"I am very particular about the company I keep," she quipped.
"Well then I'm very honoured."
"I'll be fine, Doctor. I will. Just need... time."
"That is something you have plenty of Miss Smith," he replied.
Walking beside him, Sarah flinched unconsciously when he called her 'Miss', but she said nothing and they walked the rest of the way home in silence.
~~
He stayed with her that night, but there were fewer nightmares She only woke up twice and his response was to gently kiss her brow, run his fingers through her hair and down her arm, and whisper to her until she drifted off again.
He'd never felt so close to her, not even before. They were lying, fully clothed, on top of her bed and it was the most intimate moment between them. He was pretty sure that Luke wasn't best pleased at the idea of "sleepover with the Doctor" but he said nothing for his mum's sake.
"You are not alone," he whispered as Sarah slept comfortably in his arms. "You are loved, Sarah. More than you will ever realise."
"I love you too," she muttered in her sleep, but he knew that she was talking to someone else.
~~
He made her tea in the morning but left the breakfast to Luke. Watching nervously as Sarah took a few bites of the toast before pushing the plate away, he reached out to her.
"Sarah..."
"You can't stay," she said for him.
"I'm sorry..."
"Don't be. I understand."
"You will be fine, I promise."
"Just without the husband, kids and grandchild on the way?" Sarah asked, and he knew that she'd overheard him the day before.
"I wasn't sure if you'd want to know..."
"Am I... is she happy?" Sarah asked, reminding herself that the her in another dimension was not her.
"Yes," the Doctor whispered.
"Just... without you."
"You and I never met."
"Don't know if I could choose," she said, trying to sound like she meant it. Right now her heart was so heavy and sore that she would have given up almost anything to have Peter back, even if it was just for a day. "But it's nice to know that I'm not alone everywhere."
"You're not alone here," came a third voice from behind her.
Sarah turned slightly in her chair to see her son in the doorway, flanked by Rani and Clyde.
"I know," she smiled, getting up and walking over to them. "And I love each and every one of you."
"I'm totally your favourite though," Clyde quipped, but there was no light-heartedness in his tone.
"Totally," she replied, almost as lifeless. The four of them shared a quick and slightly awkward group hug before pulling apart. Sarah placed a hand on Clyde and Rani's cheeks. "Thank you. For what you both did for me."
"I'm so sorry," Rani whispered, her big eyes threatening to spill over with tears.
"Oh hey, hey, hey," Sarah soothed, her voice suddenly hers again. "You have nothing to be sorry about. None of us do," she said pointedly so the Doctor would know she meant him too. "Everything happens for a reason, we have to believe that. In a funny way, if Peter hadn't have died I never would have met him."
"So it's a good thing?" Clyde asked.
"It is better to have loved and lost," Luke quoted, "than to have never loved at all."
"Good man, Will," the Doctor said. When the four of them turned to look at him, he grinned. "Bit easily led at times, but a good man."
"And so are you," Sarah pointed out. "You came back for me. You didn't have to, but you came back."
"I had to," he corrected, getting to his feet.
"Thank you."
"Anytime."
"Well, I'm kinda hoping we're not going through all that again," Clyde pointed out. "That artron energy's not going to do any damage to me, is it? I may not be planning it now, but I think I might like the option of kids one day."
"That small an amount, you'll be fine," the Doctor said, his eyes flicking to Sarah unconsciously. She was stood next to Luke, his arm protectively around her shoulders. "Look after her for me," he said to the young man.
"Always," Luke replied.
The Doctor walked over to them and kissed Sarah gently on her forehead. "Take care."
"Until the next time," she repeated, echoing their conversation in the TARDIS not two days before. "Only, maybe leave it a bit longer next time?"
The Doctor opened his mouth to reply, but somewhere in a deep, darker corner of his mind the sentence pushed its way out. "I think next time will be ages away but sooner than you'd think."
Everyone was confused by that, but four of them put it down to the Time Lord being endearingly cryptic. Maybe it would be ages for them, but tomorrow for him. Whatever he meant though he didn't elaborate, and after shaking Luke's hand he walked away. There was the sound of the front door closing, and then the familiar sound of the TARDIS as she finally left Bannerman Road.
"Wait, the TARDIS was out front?" Rani asked.
Sarah nodded. "I told him to move it from the attic, it was getting in the way."
"I didn't see it," Clyde said. "At least, I don't think I did." He screwed his face up as the memory of what he'd done not moments before began to ripple like water.
"That's the TARDIS for you. If she doesn't want to be seen, she won't be. You'll see her and walk on and then forget that you ever saw her."
"And the Doctor?" Rani asked.
"Him? You never forget him." Or anyone else who's important to you, she added silently.
tbc...
Title : Second Chance
Author : Jen
Rating : PG at the moment, possibly higher in later parts.
Summary : Sarah would give anything to see Peter one last time. With a little help from the Universe and the Doctor, she may just get her wish.
Spoilers : fair game for everything up to and including "The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith" from S3.
Part 1
Holding the mug in one hand he gently rapped on the bedroom door with the other.
"Sarah? It's me. You decent?" He tried to be light hearted but it didn't work. Very carefully he opened the door and scanned the room. She was stood by the window, staring out. "Your tea."
She didn't move. "I don't even know where he's buried."
"I'm sure we can find out."
"We?" This time she did turn around.
"You really think I'm going to let you go through this by yourself?" he asked. He put the mug down on the dresser and walked over to her.
"Most people get to say goodbye at the funeral."
"Do you want to go?" he offered.
"I thought about asking you," she admitted, "but it would raise too many questions."
"We'll stand back. They won't see us, I promise."
Pursing her lips together she struggled to remain composed. "I can't. I want to but I can't."
"OK," he said gently. "Whatever you want."
"I want to... go for a walk."
~~
He'd started off thinking that this was a very human trait. Just walking with no idea of direction or destination, but as they took turn after turn he realised just how much like his own life this was. Going wherever you wanted, acting on whims and interest and for no other reason than because you could. They ended up at the local cemetery ("Well, it's somewhere to start," she'd said) and he waited by a bench as she walked up and down the rows of newer graves. A couple of times she stopped, read the headstone, but moved on. It was only when she'd stood in front of the black marble slab for almost five minutes that he knew she'd found it.
He walked towards her but stopped at the end of the row. This was her moment, her time, and he was not going to intrude.
When she was ready she joined him, her eyes puffy and blood shot in that tell-tale way.
"Take me back," she said, and for moment he wondered if she was asking him to do that literally. Choosing instead to ignore the interpretation, he took her hand in his and they began the walk back to Bannerman Road.
~~
"If you could save them, would you?"
They had walked for nearly twenty minutes in silence so her question confused him a little.
"The Time Lords. Gallifrey. If you could save them, would you?"
"I... don't know," he admitted. "Maybe."
"Maybe?"
"If I could take you back, Sarah, I would. In an instant. You know that."
"I know."
"Changing time is... difficult. The Universe protects herself..."
Sarah slipped her hand into his. "I know," she said. "I just wish it didn't hurt so much."
The Doctor let go of her hand and put his arm around her shoulders. "That's life I'm afraid."
"Life sucks."
There was a second's silence before they both burst into giggles.
"Yes, yes it does," he agreed.
"I've been hanging around the kids too long."
"It's fantastic you know? Seeing you with those three. I meant what I said, they're brilliant."
"I am very particular about the company I keep," she quipped.
"Well then I'm very honoured."
"I'll be fine, Doctor. I will. Just need... time."
"That is something you have plenty of Miss Smith," he replied.
Walking beside him, Sarah flinched unconsciously when he called her 'Miss', but she said nothing and they walked the rest of the way home in silence.
~~
He stayed with her that night, but there were fewer nightmares She only woke up twice and his response was to gently kiss her brow, run his fingers through her hair and down her arm, and whisper to her until she drifted off again.
He'd never felt so close to her, not even before. They were lying, fully clothed, on top of her bed and it was the most intimate moment between them. He was pretty sure that Luke wasn't best pleased at the idea of "sleepover with the Doctor" but he said nothing for his mum's sake.
"You are not alone," he whispered as Sarah slept comfortably in his arms. "You are loved, Sarah. More than you will ever realise."
"I love you too," she muttered in her sleep, but he knew that she was talking to someone else.
~~
He made her tea in the morning but left the breakfast to Luke. Watching nervously as Sarah took a few bites of the toast before pushing the plate away, he reached out to her.
"Sarah..."
"You can't stay," she said for him.
"I'm sorry..."
"Don't be. I understand."
"You will be fine, I promise."
"Just without the husband, kids and grandchild on the way?" Sarah asked, and he knew that she'd overheard him the day before.
"I wasn't sure if you'd want to know..."
"Am I... is she happy?" Sarah asked, reminding herself that the her in another dimension was not her.
"Yes," the Doctor whispered.
"Just... without you."
"You and I never met."
"Don't know if I could choose," she said, trying to sound like she meant it. Right now her heart was so heavy and sore that she would have given up almost anything to have Peter back, even if it was just for a day. "But it's nice to know that I'm not alone everywhere."
"You're not alone here," came a third voice from behind her.
Sarah turned slightly in her chair to see her son in the doorway, flanked by Rani and Clyde.
"I know," she smiled, getting up and walking over to them. "And I love each and every one of you."
"I'm totally your favourite though," Clyde quipped, but there was no light-heartedness in his tone.
"Totally," she replied, almost as lifeless. The four of them shared a quick and slightly awkward group hug before pulling apart. Sarah placed a hand on Clyde and Rani's cheeks. "Thank you. For what you both did for me."
"I'm so sorry," Rani whispered, her big eyes threatening to spill over with tears.
"Oh hey, hey, hey," Sarah soothed, her voice suddenly hers again. "You have nothing to be sorry about. None of us do," she said pointedly so the Doctor would know she meant him too. "Everything happens for a reason, we have to believe that. In a funny way, if Peter hadn't have died I never would have met him."
"So it's a good thing?" Clyde asked.
"It is better to have loved and lost," Luke quoted, "than to have never loved at all."
"Good man, Will," the Doctor said. When the four of them turned to look at him, he grinned. "Bit easily led at times, but a good man."
"And so are you," Sarah pointed out. "You came back for me. You didn't have to, but you came back."
"I had to," he corrected, getting to his feet.
"Thank you."
"Anytime."
"Well, I'm kinda hoping we're not going through all that again," Clyde pointed out. "That artron energy's not going to do any damage to me, is it? I may not be planning it now, but I think I might like the option of kids one day."
"That small an amount, you'll be fine," the Doctor said, his eyes flicking to Sarah unconsciously. She was stood next to Luke, his arm protectively around her shoulders. "Look after her for me," he said to the young man.
"Always," Luke replied.
The Doctor walked over to them and kissed Sarah gently on her forehead. "Take care."
"Until the next time," she repeated, echoing their conversation in the TARDIS not two days before. "Only, maybe leave it a bit longer next time?"
The Doctor opened his mouth to reply, but somewhere in a deep, darker corner of his mind the sentence pushed its way out. "I think next time will be ages away but sooner than you'd think."
Everyone was confused by that, but four of them put it down to the Time Lord being endearingly cryptic. Maybe it would be ages for them, but tomorrow for him. Whatever he meant though he didn't elaborate, and after shaking Luke's hand he walked away. There was the sound of the front door closing, and then the familiar sound of the TARDIS as she finally left Bannerman Road.
"Wait, the TARDIS was out front?" Rani asked.
Sarah nodded. "I told him to move it from the attic, it was getting in the way."
"I didn't see it," Clyde said. "At least, I don't think I did." He screwed his face up as the memory of what he'd done not moments before began to ripple like water.
"That's the TARDIS for you. If she doesn't want to be seen, she won't be. You'll see her and walk on and then forget that you ever saw her."
"And the Doctor?" Rani asked.
"Him? You never forget him." Or anyone else who's important to you, she added silently.
tbc...