![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
locker_monsterTitle: Home (2/8)
Rating: PG
Characters: Ten, Martha, Ian, Barbara
Timeline: Set during "Blink"
Summary: Stranded in 1969, the Doctor turns to some old friends so he and Martha can return home.
Disclaimer: Nope, these characters still ain't mine.
A/N: Posting this in honour of Doctor Who's 46th anniversary. A shout-out to my beta![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
agapi42. Thank you so much for all your help!
Chapter One.
As the Doctor wandered the halls of Sutton Academy, memories of his own schooling came rushing back. The long hours of sitting and listening to his teachers drone on and on about the dynamics of space and time; the uncomfortable uniforms they had to wear, complete with funny hat; the joy at reaching the end of a long day; the Mountains of Solace and Solitude beckoning, tempting him and his friends out-of-bounds. So many lifetimes ago. Only he was left to remember it all.
He ducked into a nearby storage room at the sound of approaching footsteps. He could have easily shown the psychic paper to whoever it was, but he wanted to be able to leave the school without anyone seeing his face. It would make what he planned to do so much simpler.
After paying the rent and fixing the landlady’s stove, thus ensuring that the remainder of the month would be hassle free, the Doctor had been left with several options on how he could spend his day. He eventually decided on trying to find a junk yard. Foreman’s junk yard was still at 76 Totter’s Lane, but a quick scan of the inventory had yielded nothing substantial. Once again, he was reminded how low on funds they were; money was the one clear solution to most of their problems. Having enough of it would have enabled him to buy all he needed.
But without sufficient funds, he was left with another option: theft. It was all in a good cause, really. The entire solar system was at stake if the Weeping Angels made it into the TARDIS. Getting back to the right time was just part of his objective.
Killing two birds with one stone was the Earth idiom that came to mind. He could have gone to any school, but Sutton Academy was where he wanted to be, whether he could rationalize it to himself or not. If he ran into a certain science teacher while here, then he would stop to chat, but rummaging through the school’s supplies was the main reason for his being there.
And the storage room he had ducked into was perfect. The Doctor found himself surrounded by film projectors, portable tape recorders, and shiny film canisters. Everything looked brand new or close to new. If a few things went missing, hopefully none of the staff would mind.
Slipping on his glasses, he began going over the stores. He had already taken apart the phone in the flat, so he had some smaller electronics to work with. Maybe one of the tape recorders could provide additional parts.
He didn’t hear the door to the storage room open but he heard the sound of a man clearing his throat quite clearly.
The Doctor turned around, hiding a tape reel behind his back. “Hello,” he greeted, putting on a genial smile. He broke out into an enormous grin when he saw who was standing in the doorway.
Ian Chesterton looked exactly the same as when they had parted, but it would have been wrong to say that he was the same man. Travelling through time and space had exposed him to experiences very few people on Earth could include in their personal history. “Can I help you?” he asked politely.
It was the second time in two days the Doctor had been asked that question. Was he the sort of person that looked like he needed help? Perhaps the conundrum of returning to 2007 was beginning to show.
“Oh, you already have,” the Doctor replied without really thinking about the words, but it was the truth. He had learned so much from Ian and Barbara, just as they had learned from him during their travels. His first incarnation had been so callous before he had met the two teachers.
Ian regarded the Doctor closely as he continued to block the only exit. “Are you new here? I don’t believe we’ve met.”
The Doctor considered his next words carefully. His caution was two-fold. The wrong words could land him in trouble with the police and alienate himself with Ian. After all this time, he wanted to be able to re-connect with his old companions and that was hard to do if he lost their trust.
“You taught my granddaughter, back at Coal Hill School,” he started, knowing, of course, that he didn’t look old enough to have a granddaughter.
The mention of Coal Hill made Ian tense slightly. It was still a sore subject with him, it seemed.
“She was a remarkable girl. Seemed a bit strange to those around her but incredibly smart. You and Barbara thought so.”
Dropping Barbara’s name into the conversation also invoked a reaction from Ian. The man gripped the doorframe tightly. “Who are you?”
“You were always dashing about wherever we went,” the Doctor recalled with an amused grin. His expression sobered as he looked at Ian square in the face. “Chesterton. Or Chesterfield. Or Chesserman. Never could get it right, could I?” He hadn’t pictured himself having this conversation in a cupboard but that was indicative of the life he led.
Ian moved from the doorway and closed the door behind him. One wouldn’t think it when looking at the man, but he was a formidable fighter. His fighting abilities had gotten them out of a few scraps, the Doctor recalled. Never before had he feared those abilities being turned on him.
“You can’t be him,” Ian said finally, dispelling some of the tension. “You’re his son, you must be.”
Scientists. Always ready to disbelieve anything that didn’t have proof. The Doctor leaned forward and, as he was the same height now as the teacher, looked Ian right in the eye. “I’m the Doctor, Ian.”
He liked to think Ian saw a remnant of his first incarnation within the depths of his gaze. That part of him, the outgoing adventurer with limitless curiosity but minimal patience, still lurked inside some facet of his mind. A moment passed and then Ian stepped back, his eyes wide.
“This is impossible.” The man ran a hand through his hair. “You look completely different.”
“It’s something my people can do,” the Doctor said, with a shrug. He saw no need to go into the specifics.
“A man can’t change his appearance at will.”
Ian’s hesitation to believe what was before him reminded the Doctor of another conversation they had had so long ago. “Always the rational thinker.” He chuckled. “A man can change his clothes and his hairstyle. Who says aliens can’t do the same, but with body and mind?”
He let the thought settle in the man’s mind. There was nothing else he could say to convince Ian. Any proof he had that he was the same old man was currently waiting in 2007 with stone angels trying to get inside.
“I suppose I should admit I don’t understand and move on.” Ian allowed himself a chuckle, too. “The universe never made sense when you were around, Doctor.”
“Yeah, but that was half the fun.”
A silence fell over the conversation but it was an amiable one, rather than awkward. Both of them had so much to say, but where to start? Ian went with the basics.
“What are you doing inside a cupboard?”
“I’m stealing supplies from your school,” replied the Doctor, trying not to cringe.
Ian didn’t seem outraged and the Doctor was suddenly glad they had met again. Explaining his situation to anyone else would have been problematic. “For the ship?”
“Not exactly. The TARDIS is in 2007 right now.”
“And you’re here in 1969.”
“You can see my problem.” The Doctor put the tape reel aside and took off his glasses. “You wouldn’t happen to have a large pile of electronics and appliances just sitting around?”
He meant it as a joke, of course, but then Ian smiled.
Usually, the Doctor was always the one giving his companions a ride, but sitting in the passenger seat of Ian’s car, the roles were now reversed. And he didn’t mind at all. Walking everywhere had been quaint for the first few hours he and Martha had been stuck in this time period, but the novelty had quickly worn off when he began to remember how long a trip took on foot.
The journey from the school to Ian’s home hadn’t been long, but it had given the Doctor enough time to explain his situation. Ian absorbed the story without comment, knowing first hand what it was like to be far from the familiar.
“You should have found us the moment you arrived,” said Ian as he unlocked the front door to his house.
“Us?”
Ian smiled. “Yes, us.” He entered the house and called out that he was home.
As the Doctor entered, a woman’s voice replied, “You’re usually the first one home. Long day at the school?”
“Actually, I met an old friend.”
It was a normal conversation between normal humans and the Doctor would have been inclined to ignore the chatter, but he recognized the other voice. He paused in the doorway of the house, surprised but enormously pleased. At the end of the hall, Ian placed a quick kiss on the woman’s cheek before stepping aside and revealing the Doctor.
Barbara Wright stared back at him. “Hello,” she said, her tone neutral.
He, of course, was just a stranger to her.
Rating: PG
Characters: Ten, Martha, Ian, Barbara
Timeline: Set during "Blink"
Summary: Stranded in 1969, the Doctor turns to some old friends so he and Martha can return home.
Disclaimer: Nope, these characters still ain't mine.
A/N: Posting this in honour of Doctor Who's 46th anniversary. A shout-out to my beta
agapi42. Thank you so much for all your help!Chapter One.
As the Doctor wandered the halls of Sutton Academy, memories of his own schooling came rushing back. The long hours of sitting and listening to his teachers drone on and on about the dynamics of space and time; the uncomfortable uniforms they had to wear, complete with funny hat; the joy at reaching the end of a long day; the Mountains of Solace and Solitude beckoning, tempting him and his friends out-of-bounds. So many lifetimes ago. Only he was left to remember it all.
He ducked into a nearby storage room at the sound of approaching footsteps. He could have easily shown the psychic paper to whoever it was, but he wanted to be able to leave the school without anyone seeing his face. It would make what he planned to do so much simpler.
After paying the rent and fixing the landlady’s stove, thus ensuring that the remainder of the month would be hassle free, the Doctor had been left with several options on how he could spend his day. He eventually decided on trying to find a junk yard. Foreman’s junk yard was still at 76 Totter’s Lane, but a quick scan of the inventory had yielded nothing substantial. Once again, he was reminded how low on funds they were; money was the one clear solution to most of their problems. Having enough of it would have enabled him to buy all he needed.
But without sufficient funds, he was left with another option: theft. It was all in a good cause, really. The entire solar system was at stake if the Weeping Angels made it into the TARDIS. Getting back to the right time was just part of his objective.
Killing two birds with one stone was the Earth idiom that came to mind. He could have gone to any school, but Sutton Academy was where he wanted to be, whether he could rationalize it to himself or not. If he ran into a certain science teacher while here, then he would stop to chat, but rummaging through the school’s supplies was the main reason for his being there.
And the storage room he had ducked into was perfect. The Doctor found himself surrounded by film projectors, portable tape recorders, and shiny film canisters. Everything looked brand new or close to new. If a few things went missing, hopefully none of the staff would mind.
Slipping on his glasses, he began going over the stores. He had already taken apart the phone in the flat, so he had some smaller electronics to work with. Maybe one of the tape recorders could provide additional parts.
He didn’t hear the door to the storage room open but he heard the sound of a man clearing his throat quite clearly.
The Doctor turned around, hiding a tape reel behind his back. “Hello,” he greeted, putting on a genial smile. He broke out into an enormous grin when he saw who was standing in the doorway.
Ian Chesterton looked exactly the same as when they had parted, but it would have been wrong to say that he was the same man. Travelling through time and space had exposed him to experiences very few people on Earth could include in their personal history. “Can I help you?” he asked politely.
It was the second time in two days the Doctor had been asked that question. Was he the sort of person that looked like he needed help? Perhaps the conundrum of returning to 2007 was beginning to show.
“Oh, you already have,” the Doctor replied without really thinking about the words, but it was the truth. He had learned so much from Ian and Barbara, just as they had learned from him during their travels. His first incarnation had been so callous before he had met the two teachers.
Ian regarded the Doctor closely as he continued to block the only exit. “Are you new here? I don’t believe we’ve met.”
The Doctor considered his next words carefully. His caution was two-fold. The wrong words could land him in trouble with the police and alienate himself with Ian. After all this time, he wanted to be able to re-connect with his old companions and that was hard to do if he lost their trust.
“You taught my granddaughter, back at Coal Hill School,” he started, knowing, of course, that he didn’t look old enough to have a granddaughter.
The mention of Coal Hill made Ian tense slightly. It was still a sore subject with him, it seemed.
“She was a remarkable girl. Seemed a bit strange to those around her but incredibly smart. You and Barbara thought so.”
Dropping Barbara’s name into the conversation also invoked a reaction from Ian. The man gripped the doorframe tightly. “Who are you?”
“You were always dashing about wherever we went,” the Doctor recalled with an amused grin. His expression sobered as he looked at Ian square in the face. “Chesterton. Or Chesterfield. Or Chesserman. Never could get it right, could I?” He hadn’t pictured himself having this conversation in a cupboard but that was indicative of the life he led.
Ian moved from the doorway and closed the door behind him. One wouldn’t think it when looking at the man, but he was a formidable fighter. His fighting abilities had gotten them out of a few scraps, the Doctor recalled. Never before had he feared those abilities being turned on him.
“You can’t be him,” Ian said finally, dispelling some of the tension. “You’re his son, you must be.”
Scientists. Always ready to disbelieve anything that didn’t have proof. The Doctor leaned forward and, as he was the same height now as the teacher, looked Ian right in the eye. “I’m the Doctor, Ian.”
He liked to think Ian saw a remnant of his first incarnation within the depths of his gaze. That part of him, the outgoing adventurer with limitless curiosity but minimal patience, still lurked inside some facet of his mind. A moment passed and then Ian stepped back, his eyes wide.
“This is impossible.” The man ran a hand through his hair. “You look completely different.”
“It’s something my people can do,” the Doctor said, with a shrug. He saw no need to go into the specifics.
“A man can’t change his appearance at will.”
Ian’s hesitation to believe what was before him reminded the Doctor of another conversation they had had so long ago. “Always the rational thinker.” He chuckled. “A man can change his clothes and his hairstyle. Who says aliens can’t do the same, but with body and mind?”
He let the thought settle in the man’s mind. There was nothing else he could say to convince Ian. Any proof he had that he was the same old man was currently waiting in 2007 with stone angels trying to get inside.
“I suppose I should admit I don’t understand and move on.” Ian allowed himself a chuckle, too. “The universe never made sense when you were around, Doctor.”
“Yeah, but that was half the fun.”
A silence fell over the conversation but it was an amiable one, rather than awkward. Both of them had so much to say, but where to start? Ian went with the basics.
“What are you doing inside a cupboard?”
“I’m stealing supplies from your school,” replied the Doctor, trying not to cringe.
Ian didn’t seem outraged and the Doctor was suddenly glad they had met again. Explaining his situation to anyone else would have been problematic. “For the ship?”
“Not exactly. The TARDIS is in 2007 right now.”
“And you’re here in 1969.”
“You can see my problem.” The Doctor put the tape reel aside and took off his glasses. “You wouldn’t happen to have a large pile of electronics and appliances just sitting around?”
He meant it as a joke, of course, but then Ian smiled.
Usually, the Doctor was always the one giving his companions a ride, but sitting in the passenger seat of Ian’s car, the roles were now reversed. And he didn’t mind at all. Walking everywhere had been quaint for the first few hours he and Martha had been stuck in this time period, but the novelty had quickly worn off when he began to remember how long a trip took on foot.
The journey from the school to Ian’s home hadn’t been long, but it had given the Doctor enough time to explain his situation. Ian absorbed the story without comment, knowing first hand what it was like to be far from the familiar.
“You should have found us the moment you arrived,” said Ian as he unlocked the front door to his house.
“Us?”
Ian smiled. “Yes, us.” He entered the house and called out that he was home.
As the Doctor entered, a woman’s voice replied, “You’re usually the first one home. Long day at the school?”
“Actually, I met an old friend.”
It was a normal conversation between normal humans and the Doctor would have been inclined to ignore the chatter, but he recognized the other voice. He paused in the doorway of the house, surprised but enormously pleased. At the end of the hall, Ian placed a quick kiss on the woman’s cheek before stepping aside and revealing the Doctor.
Barbara Wright stared back at him. “Hello,” she said, her tone neutral.
He, of course, was just a stranger to her.
Tags:
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2009-11-25 01:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-26 12:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-25 01:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-26 12:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-25 02:11 am (UTC)She'll probably be like, "Well doh, Ian."
Only, in 50's speak.
no subject
Date: 2009-11-26 12:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-25 02:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-26 12:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-25 05:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-26 12:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-25 07:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-26 12:53 am (UTC)DOCTOR: Oh, well I don’t know that I was under any obligation to report my movements to you, Chesterfield.
BARBARA: Chesterton
DOCTOR: (To IAN) Oh, Barbara’s calling you!
no subject
Date: 2009-11-26 05:38 am (UTC)I'm looking forward to seeing where this is going.