It was a straight forward mugging. Cordy’s vision had been pretty accurate for once and he chased the would be attacker down the street and into an alley. Big mistake Angel realised as the man ran straight to here his friends were lurking. “So it takes five of you does it?” Angel fought to control his temper; he didn’t want to loose control…yet.
The man Angel had pursued laughed. “This is going to be fun, far better than beating someone up just for ‘is wallet. We like the exercise you see, love it in fact.”
“I wouldn’t want to disappoint you.” Angel moved his stance into a classic martial arts defensive posture. “Who’s first?” Before the men could act a wind began to blow down the ally from behind Angel. There was a strange roaring noise and the flash of bright lights, so bright that it turned night into day. Angel tried to hide his face but the light did not burn. The men fled in panic and so Angel turned around to see what it was. It was a blue police telephone box; he had seen one before a couple of years ago in Sunnydale. “Hey Doc.” Angel said warmly as the doors opened. His smile turned to puzzlement and then surprise.
“Hello Angel.” The Doctor replied, extending a carefully manicured hand. “Surprised to see me?” She smiled at the vampire.


Cordelia Chase, Cordy to those who insisted on being friendly, paced around the office. The headache had eased off now and Wesley had given her a glass of water to settle her nerves. “How long does it take to stop some guy being mugged? I mean we’ve defeated demons quicker than this.”
“Angel will return shortly.” Wesley reassured his attractive colleague. “Perhaps he’s been diverted by something?”
The door opened and Angel walked in, followed by two women. “Ah you’re both here. Cordelia you know the Doctor of course.”
“How could I forget?” Cordy remarked, “ he was more Giles than Giles.”
“Yes, well that was all several lifetimes ago.” The Doctor agreed. “I should introduce my best friend Hannah, she’s quite used to time travelling now. Even so she’s more or less from this period of Earth’s history anyway.”
“Hello.” Hannah smiled at Cordelia. “I’m Hannah.” Cordelia was gorgeous and Hannah found it difficult to concentrate on anything, she could barely remember basic things like breathing in and out.
Wesley extended his hand out in friendship. “Hello, I’m Wesley Windham-Price.”
“Yes.” Hannah said, returning the handshake. Her heart was full of butterflies and each one was called Cordelia.
The Doctor explained for Wesley’s benefit about her ability to travel through time and space before detailing the events that occurred in Sunnydale two years ago. Then she listened to Angel and the others when they brought her up to speed about Angel loosing his soul, Faith and the Mayor. Cordelia getting another vision was something of a comedown as she thrashed around on the floor clutching her head and screaming. She was lucky that Hannah was so eager to comfort her once the pain subsided.
“What did you see?” Wesley asked.
Cordelia explained the various images as best she could. “Faces, people, something sinister, a man who wants to control things, he’s got a beard. Someone in danger, a woman, she looks pretty geeky oh and those shoes are so yesterday.”
“Is that all?” Wesley snapped. “No names, places, times?”
“Let her rest.” Hannah said. “Can’t you see she’s been through enough pain without adding insult to injury?”
“Yes, you’re right of course. Cordelia should get some rest. I’m sure whatever it is the powers that be wanted her to see will wait until she’s feeling much better.” Wesley walked around the room waving his arms about as he talked.
“This is her second vision today Wesley, you know how much it hurts. Seeing anyone go through that once is more than enough.” Angel walked out of the office to the elevator that led to his basement room.
“Hannah you stay with Cordelia and Wesley, I’ll go and have a chat with Angel.” The Doctor followed the brooding vampire.
Hannah looked at the drained face of Cordelia. Her nose was like a small mushroom, her eyes like gemstones and her lips so soft and silky and very kissable.
“Excuse me.” Wesley waved his hand in front of Hannah’s eyes. “When you’ve quite finished fantasizing over Cordelia, I have a few questions. Like how come you and your lunatic friend claim to travel through time?”
“You don’t believe us?” Hannah asked, steadying Cordelia before standing up. “Tell me, Wesley, why don’t you believe me? Why would I lie to you? Can it be that you’re scared of little old me?”
Wesley backed away slowly. “I…I’m not afraid of you. I don’t want to see you make a fool of yourself with Cordelia. She’s very vulnerable right now.”
“You are scared aren’t you? You love her don’t you? You love her but you haven’t said anything to her. You think that I might beat you to her don’t you? You’re afraid that she doesn’t love you.”
“Yes, ok I admit it. I love Cordelia but it’s not the done thing to take advantage of her in this state. I’m only looking out for her best interests.”
“She’s lucky to have a friend like you.” Hannah smiled. “She’s not my type anyway, I could tell by the way she looks at you when you’re not making the same eyes at her. She’s very beautiful, if it were me I would have made some sort of move by now.”


“Nice place.” The Doctor looked around Angel’s new place. “It’s bigger than the last place. Do you have any teabags?”
Angel waved in the direction of the sink. “There’s a kettle over there somewhere. Cordy keeps a bag of sugar and coffee in the fridge, you may have to move a few things.”
The Doctor carefully moved several blood donation bags to one side before finding the sugar. “I have some teabags on me, always keep a few to hand. You never know when you may be called on to provide a fresh cup to an old friend.” Having boiled the water the Doctor waited for the tea to percolate before adding sugar. “Pity about the milk, you’ll just have to blow on it if it’s too hot.”
“Thank you.” Angel took the cup of tea from the Doctor. “Y’know, I still can’t believe it’s you Doc. You seem so different and yet there are things that are quite the same.”
“Yes well every me is different in many ways to the previous ones. Likes, dislikes, interests, hobbies. The more things change the more they become pronounced. Being a woman in this life is actually quite useful, for a start no one else expects it and also I find that buying clothes is very therapeutic. Getting used to walking about in heels was the most difficult thing, far more so than the mood swings, walking past building sites and telling David off for leaving the loo seat up. I guess I should pop round to see Buffy and the others, but I’m a bit concerned about Cordelia. It’s probably nothing but well it sounded almost like the Master she was describing.”
Angel stood up. “Yeah, perhaps Cordy has recovered herself. Your friend Hannah seems taken with her.”
“Yes.” The Doctor replied. “She does, I hope she doesn’t get her heart broken again.”
“She’s?” Angel left the question hanging.
“Yes, she is.” The Doctor followed Angel back to the lift.


“How are you feeling?” Wesley asked the recovered Cordelia. She had some colour back in her cheeks now and she was complaining about everything, sure signs she was back to her usual self.
“Oh great, my head feels like it’s been pureed and you have to be the most obvious lesbian in the whole world I’ve ever seen and you’re trying to chat me up. No offence Hannah, you should drop by and see Willow, Xander told me she’d joined the leather pants cult.”
“None taken.” Hannah replied. She’s so pretty when she’s upset she thought, so very pretty.
“This isn’t helping.” Wesley interrupted. “Cordelia do you remember anything else from your vision?”
“Apart from wishing my head would just simply explode and get it over with once and for all? Well, yes...Fourth and Grant, an old disused bank.”


Inside the old Third National Bank on Fourth and Grant three figures were meeting. “You know Carl, I’m very disappointed in you.” The elder of the three figures, a tall man with piercing blue eyes and a sad smile behind a greying beard finished speaking.
“Sorry Boss.” Carl said. “This blue box just appeared from outta nowhere. Scared me something bad it did.”
“You superstitious primitive, no matter the Doctor move is made. That fool’s death will be even more enjoyable along with Angels. Oh Carl...” When Carl turned around the Master used the TCE to turn him into a six-inch corpse. “Let that be a warning to the others, I do not tolerate failure.”


Angel made his way through the back streets and over rooftops towards the address Cordy had given him. A certain Vietnamese couple would have been startled to see him leap over a ten-foot wide gap between buildings if they weren’t otherwise engaged. These were his streets, this was his city and for some of the inhabitants he was their only hope. Crouching down on a nearby rooftop he peered through the broken window. Inside he could see a man, the man Cordy had described. He couldn’t smell anyone else about but this Master didn’t come off as remotely human. Jumping down five stories into the ally Angel went over to the door and found it opened quite easily.
The Master turned around to look at the vampire. “I’ve been expecting you Angel, I have a little errand I’d like you to take back to the Doctor with you.”
“I’ve got a better idea, why don’t I see what your blood tastes like?”
“That really is most inadvisable, not only am I wearing an ancient rune of protection worn by Rassilon himself in the days of the great hunt but I also have this.” The Master produced a simple wooden crucifix. “It’s very effective, so my associate informs me.”
Angel shrunk back from the cross. He may have a soul but he was still a demon. “You’re very well informed.”
“I’m sorry our mutual acquaintance can’t be here in person, he’s a little tied up back in Sunnydale but he sends is regards and asked me to ‘tear your bloody lungs’ out if I got the chance. Spike does have a way with words doesn’t he?” The Master chuckled before advancing on Angel with the crucifix. “Tell the Doctor that I want a meeting, tell him I want to see him here.”
Angel realised that the Master didn’t know the Doc was now female. Maybe it would prove useful. “I bring you the Doc and you kill him is that it?”
The Master put on a mock surprised look for Angel’s benefit. “Oh now there’s an idea. Of course I ‘m going to kill him, but first I want to humiliate him. Make him pay for everything he’s done to me.”
Angel turned to leave. “Revenge is a hollow motive, you should try and do better for the sake of your soul.”
“Possibly.” The Master called, “But it is very stimulating.”


“The Master knows you’re a woman.” Hannah said. “Remember when we he was working for the Black Guardian?”
The Doctor paused for a few seconds. “It sounds as if it’s an earlier incarnation, one of the problems with time travel is that you don’t always meet people in a chronological context. It’s a major faux pas and usually highly embarrassing.”
“So what do we do Doc?” Angel asked. “Tor.” He quickly added when he saw her glare of disapproval.
The Doctor looked at Wesley. “He’s about the right size, the accent is right. The clothes are all wrong of course but we can fix that.” She put her arm around Wesley’s waist. “How would you like to become me for a day, on of the old me’s of course otherwise you’d need expensive surgery.”
“Now look.” Wesley started to protest. “Who ever this Master is I’m not sure he’s someone we should be dealing with. We know he’s in league with Spike and therefore he’s not to be trusted.”
“Come on.” The Doctor escorted Wesley to the door. “We can have a nice chat on the way to my TARDIS and I’ll tell you all about him.”


Angel, Cordy and Hannah sat around a rather thin and sad looking pizza. Angel had taken one slice while Cordy had three. This left Hannah with four slices. Putting her waistline first she took two slices and left the other two for the Doctor and Wesley. Angel retreated down to his room for a mug of wine, which the two girls both knew was blood but they were too polite to say anything and they hardly stared at him much. Hannah was more distracted by how nice Cordelia looked and Cordelia was more concerned that Wesley could get hurt.
“Is there anything on TV?” Cordelia broke the silence at last. “There’s usually something good on about now.”
Hannah handed the remote control to Cordelia, their hands brushing together briefly. She watched as the channels flickered on and off as Cordelia looked for something interesting.
It came as a relief to Angel when Wesley and the Doctor let themselves back into the office.
Cordelia looked at Wesley, he was wearing the most awful outfit she had ever seen. Talk about vomit inducing! “I’ve seen fashion disasters in my time but that’s the most, most. They haven’t invented words for how awful that coat is.”
“Hey it’s not that bad, oh I can’t lie it is pretty dire Doctor.” Hannah stood up next to Cordy.
“Well I liked it once, that’s what count’s isn’t it? Fashions come and go, trends are born and die. Not all of them on Earth either, or by species who see the same way that you do.
“So I’m a renegade time traveller, I travel from planet to planet stopping tyranny and oppression. I like Earth and I’m secretly half human on my mother’s side. This is more farfetched than that film they made me watch. The one with Will Smith in it.”
“Independence Day?” The Doctor asked.
“No; Wild, Wild West actually.” Wesley chuckled, to hide the blind terror. “Hannah is going to pretend to by my best friend because this Master might already know about Cordelia and you are going to be nearby just in case he suspects anything and tries to use some sort of telepathy on me. Why do I want to run away and hide?”
“You’ll be fine Doctor.” Hannah smiled at Wesley. “Just getting into character. Do you think I should pretend to be straight as well or is that going to far?”
“Given that outfit, yes.” Cordelia remarked sarcastically. “At least you shave your armpits.”


The Master smiled as Angel returned. “I trust you were successful?”
“Just like we agreed, I told the Doc that you were hiding from someone. It’s OK Doctor, you can come in now, its perfectly safe.” Angel waited until Wesley and Hannah walked past him before leaving.
“My dear Doctor, ever the wearer of tasteful attire and your little friend has come with you. This is a nice surprise I think I’ll kill her first just to see the look on your face.”
“Oh no, save me Doctor.” Hannah hid behind Wesley.
“Leave her alone.” Wesley commanded. “Your quarrel is with me, not her.”
“Predictable as ever Doctor. I must confess this body is an improvement on the last one, that one was far too self righteous for your own good.”
“You think we have anything in common Master? You’re the very essence of all I’m opposed to.” Wesley tried his best to look defiant.
“Oh, the very essence of all you are opposed to? You’re even more naive than ever Doctor. I guess I’ll just have to kill you and skip the humiliation part all together.”
From the shadows four vampires emerged, their true demonic faces revealed; their hunting faces. Baring his fangs one of them charged at Wesley.
“Am I too late to join in the fun?” Angel ran in through the door followed by Cordy who carried a large cloth. Once Angel was some distance away from her she took the cloth away to reveal a large gold crucifix and a water pistol.
Cordy fired holy water at the female vampire and shuddered as she screamed in pain. “I thought you could do with a facial.” Cordy remarked, trying to sound like Buffy.
Hannah dragged Wesley towards the exit but a vampire grabbed her arm, and she screamed in pain. The pain relented and suddenly she was coated in dust. She looked up to see Wesley holding a short metal sword. “Nice shot.” She smiled before fainting.
“Oh great.” Wesley picked Hannah up and carried her to the exit and handed Hannah’s limp body to Cordelia. “Take care of her while I see to our friends.”
The Master headed slowly away, towards his TARDIS, which was camouflaged as a manhole cover outside in the street. He had only gotten outside when someone grabbed him and his head snapped round as a fist connected with his jaw.
The Doctor stood over his fallen body before she headed inside the bank to see if she could help. She tripped over a piece of wood and picked it up when suddenly a vampire was thrown at her. The vampire’s breath was warm and foetid before his body exploded into a billion dust particles. “I just got this suit cleaned.” The Doctor complained as she dusted herself down.
“That’s the last of them.” Wesley said, taking deep breaths. “I think we did ok.”
Angel walked over to the Doctor, “the Master got away” he said looking at the exit.
The Doctor rubbed her sore knuckles. “He ran into a spot of trouble, he should really look where he’s going.”


The Master crawled towards his TARDIS, he turned the disc of metal and it irised open like a camera lens. Falling inside it he quickly closed the door again. No one saw the manhole cover flicker slightly as the Master’s TARDIS dematerialised, leaving the real cover behind.


Wesley was glad to be back in his own clothes. “Any longer and my fashion sense would have died a painful death.” He shook the Doctor and Hannah’s hands before letting Cordelia say her goodbyes.
“I guess it was fun, if you meet Stephen Spielberg can you give him my phone number?” She handed one of Angel’s business cards to the Doctor, her cell phone number scrawled on the back.
“Of course.” The Doctor replied.
Cordelia in a rare moment of compassion pecked Hannah lightly on the cheek. “Goodbye.”
Hannah floated into the TARDIS, leaving the Doctor and Angel alone. She checked the settings and programmed in the co-ordinates for Sunnydale, she was looking forward to meeting this Willow. “All done?” She asked when the Doctor entered the TARDIS.
“Yes, but I have a terrible feeling I’ve forgotten something. Never mind it’ll come back to me in time.”

Cordy was busy checking Angel’s accounts. They couldn’t afford to get some one in so she had to do them herself, no surprise there. Somehow they had managed to make four dollars and seventeen cents in the last six months, that wasn’t even an hour’s salary.
There was a knock at the door and a man wearing that awful outfit entered followed by a ginger haired girl dressed in some sort of keep fit outfit.
“How do you do, its Cordelia isn’t it? I am known as the Doctor, we met once but I looked quite different.”
“I’ll go and get Angel, he’s going to be thrilled to see you.” Wesley hurried over to the elevator.
“So Doctor, what brings you to our happy town? Some demon is going to kill us all? Maybe the Master is going to send some vampires to kill Angel again?”
The Doctor looked at Cordelia for a second. “Nothing so melodramatic, I was in the neighbourhood and thought I’d drop by for a visit.”
Cordelia understood now what the Doctor had meant by faux pas, she didn’t know where to put herself. At least Mel wasn’t trying to chat her up; she seemed more interested in her computer.