She looked down at her old friend at the terrible wound the alien had caused and tried not to cry again. This time she would save him; she had to. For too long she had assumed too much, secure in her beliefs. Well life wasn't like that; it could be a cold cruel existence at times. At other times it could be a warm friendly place filled with friends and family. Did the Universe really hate her for trying to edge the balance towards the latter? Was the simple kindness of a dozen lifetimes to be repaid by blood on her hands? The blood of a good man? The blood of a friend? Not if she had anything to say about it. "Help me please, I think he's dying."
Medicians performed the prescribed rituals of healing while she held his hand. She noticed how strong his grip was despite the obvious pain he was in. "Come on you old goat, you must pull through. Earth needs you, Doris needs you, and I need you."


Claire tried the TARDIS door but it wouldn't open. "It's locked."
"I've got a spare key." David held it up for his sister to see.
"How did you get a spare key?"
"Maybe I earned it."
Claire grabbed the key and unlocked the doors. She looked around but there was no-one inside. There was a note and she read it. "It says she's gone for a look around."
"We should wait for her."
"We have to stay here and look after Mr. Cuddles, the rabbit."
"This is some rabbit. Guess she must have bought it, it's a bit big to carry around."
"Yeah."


He looked up at his old friend; she looked so fragile and scared. "You worry too much Doctor."
"I usually have good reason to."
"I know, but there really is no need."
"Isn't there?"
"No, there isn't."
"Who's going to look after you when I'm not around?"
"Doris Doctor, she won't let me out of her sight from now on."
"Yes, Doris. You make sure she does look after you now."
"Of course Doctor."
"We had better get you home, oh my TARDIS isn't here."
Cardinal Dynami interrupted. "We can summon it here using the recall circuit."
"I thought you removed it centuries ago."
"The primary yes. The secondary one is still active."
"Quite the control freak was our Rassilon it seems."
Seconds later the familiar blue police box materialised in the Panopticon. Claire and David bounded out.
"Corr, this place is a bit naff isn't it?"
"Yeah, smells like an old folks home too."
"Ah there's the Doctor."
"Good you're here, saves me having to come looking for you. I got a bit sidetracked, not to mention involved in hijacking but the good news is Alistair's not dead. He was infected with some sort of alien parasite; something that my people were investigating and they saved his life."
"So you're here, well they say I'm fit enough to leave although I will need a few days rest, not bad for a dead man."
"Don't say that Alistair."


Cardinal Dynami watched the Doctor's TARDIS dematerialise he was joined by a second Cardinal. "Does she suspect?"
"No, she does not know."
"She's very dangerous."
"I know, but even she cannot interfere in the plan."
"How many times have we used the Doctor?"
"I stopped counting after that one with the awful coat."
"Yes, that one cost us a great deal. Even the Valeyard couldn't stop that one."
"Nor this one if you remember."


"Here we are Brigadier, home sweet home."
"Alistair?" Doris ran across the lawn and threw her arms around her beloved husband.
The Brigadier looked down into his wife's eyes and smiled. "Calm down Doris, you didn't think I was gone forever, did you?"
"It was too close this time you silly man, don't ever do this to me again you hear me?"
"Of course not Doris. From now on it's the quiet life for me."
"Doctor, however can we thank you?"
"Seeing the two of you together again is all the reward I need, although a cuppa would be nice."
"Of course it's the least we can do." They went inside and the Doctor told some of the more embarrassing UNIT stories about the Brigadier.


"Soon now my dear, soon." The Valeyard watched the good version of himself on his TARDIS viewscreen.