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toxic_cornSeries: Kristy and The Doctor
Title: Chapter Sixteen - Alternate Los Angeles (Part 1)
Author: toxic_corn and nutmeg610
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Characters belong to Ann M. Martin, Scholastic Books, and the BBC. Sometimes ABC even. And NBC. Okay, practically no one is ours, okay? We aren't collecting any money so pretty please don't sue? We're both broke college students.
Summary: Kristy Thomas has been doing well since her days as president of the Babysitters Club. She's about to graduate from the University of Connecticut and her best friend's finacee can get her a place in the LAPD. It looks like her future is set until a strange man in a magic blue box shows up and changes everything...
Authors' Note: Yet another pairing in the crack series. We found the idea of The Doctor having to put up with the blunt, bossy Kristy to be funny and from there the story grew. If you think that now we are officially certifiable, you're most likely right. This follows the other stories in the crack series: Your Boyfriend Snorts Cocaine, Mary Anne and Wanna Get It On, Dawn?
Wow, this one was too big for LJ! Split up in two parts.
Catch up on earlier chapters at the organizational post.
Chapter Sixteen: Alternate Los Angeles
Hey, Mary Anne? It's Kristy, pick up. Come on, I have a big favor to ask you, I need you to-"
- answering machine message from Detective Kristy Thomas to Mary Anne Bruno
"You're nine years old now, Frey," The Doctor said, hands in his pockets.
"I am," Frey agreed.
"So I think that's old enough for you to pick our destination and fly us there. What'd you think?"
Frey's face lit up. "Really, Dad? Can I?"
"Of course! Hop to."
Grinning, Frey stood at the controls and did what he'd watched his father do for years. The TARDIS lurched and soon they were headed to Frey's chosen destination.
"By the by son, where are we headed?" The Doctor called.
"Los Angeles!" Frey shouted, grinning. "May 3, 2019!"
"Oh," The Doctor said, surprised. "You want to see your aunties Mary Anne and Dawn?"
Frey didn't respond, making The Doctor frown. They hadn't seen any of Kristy's family and friends since her death. It would be a terrible thing to have to explain. And they'd all be disappointed at seeing Frey so grown up and knowing they'd missed years of the boy's life. He knew it was selfish to keep Frey away but having to face her family... there'd be recriminations. And he'd have to face up to the fact that she was really gone.
The TARDIS came to a stop and Frey ran excitedly to the doors.
"Wait for me!" The Doctor dashed after him and throwing open the doors, they found themselves in a parking lot outside a warehouse. The air was hot and stuffy, polluted. Why had Frey dropped them here and not in the Shelten backyard or better yet, the Callis's?
"We're here," Frey said to himself, looking around happily.
"Yes, we-" The Doctor cut himself off when he looked at the wall and saw a campaign flier for a candidate he didn't recognize. He knew the people who were supposed to run this year and the name didn't even ring a bell in his mind. Suspicion started to creep over his features. "Frey... this isn't the Earth we know, is it?"
Again, Frey didn't respond. He just stood there and stared sullenly at him.
Suspicion was replaced immediately by anger. "How could you do this?! You know you cause irreparable damage when you bust holes in space to get to these alternate worlds! How could you be so deliberately thick?!"
"Because I'm sick of you!" Frey screamed tearfully. "I want Mummy!"
"Well you can't! She's de--" He faltered, not wanting to say it. "She's gone."
"She's not dead here! Because she didn't meet you and you...." his features contorted with the grief and anger he was feeling. "You didn't save her!!"
Having his own thoughts thrown back at him in such a way felt like a punch to the gut. "Is that what you think?" He looked away, unable to bear the accusation and resentment his son had been harboring for apparently some time. "I could only save you, Frey. And I would have dove in after her but you needed me."
"She's dead and it's your fault! You were always going off on your own and leaving us behind! Now I'm leaving you!" With that, the boy ran off sobbing.
"Frey! Come back!" The Doctor took off after him but he wasn't as spry as he used to be and couldn't compare to the energy a nine year old had. It didn't take long for him to lose his son and The Doctor stared at where the child had been. "Frey!!! FREY!"
A tear slipped down his cheek and he rubbed it away angrily with the back of his hand. He wasn't going to lose another member of his family if he could help it.
~*~
When he could no longer hear his father's shouts, Frey slowed down. He wasn't completely sure where he was. The idea was to get to the police station; when his mother had been in school, she'd been planning on joining the LAPD. Hopefully, she was in this city as an officer of the law and this wasn't one of the worlds in which her parents hadn't met.
Oh, bother. He hadn't thought that likelihood through very well. It wasn't as if these alternate worlds were labeled or anything convenient like that.
Just ahead of him, a scary-looking emaciated man leapt over the fence out of an alley and took off at a panicked scramble. A tiny figure in a leather jacket leapt next and caught up easily with the man, slamming him into a car. As she did so, a black man came out of the car, looking amused.
The tiny figure - a woman - whipped out a pair of cuffs and put them on the man. "Now, what part of 'freeze' sounded like 'Run as fast as you can?' I'm just so curious!"
The man grunted, not sounding happy.
"You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney...." The woman continued reading the man's rights but Frey wasn't really listening to the words. It was his mother. All he could do was gawk.
She looked a little harder than his mother was. Her hair was a little shorter, held back in a ponytail. He couldn't recall his mother ever wearing leather. Or jeans with holes in the knees. Or boots.
"Hey, little man." The black man called to him. "This isn't a good place for you. You lost?"
Frey managed to tear his eyes from the other Kristy and shook his head at the man.
At that moment, the other Kristy looked around at him with no recognition in his eyes, making his heart sink. "Do we have a stray running around?"
"Looks like."
Sighing, the other Kristy put her captured man into the back of the car. "Terrific." She came over and knelt down in front of Frey. Once their gazes locked, she appeared startled, as if she was sensing the connection they shared. She recovered herself quickly. "Hey, sweetie. What's your name?"
He could feel his lip quivering as he answered, "Gallifrey."
She had a moment where she boggled at his strange name but remained cool. "Gallifrey. Do you live around here?"
Frey shook his head and touched her face, trying to convince himself that this was real.
Kristy blinked, moved by the gesture and unsure why. "Is... your mommy or daddy somewhere nearby?"
Again, he shook his head. "Do you recognize me?"
She shook hers back. "No. You kind of look like my brother David Michael when he was your age, though. Nine, right?"
"Yes."
"Well.... shit. I mean uh, crap." She sent a whoops look to her partner who shrugged back at her. "Well, Gallifrey, would you like to come down to the station with us? Maybe we can find your parents."
"Sure," Frey said. He didn't really care about finding his father; he just wanted to be with her.
"Okay. Let's go, then." She took his hand and said to her partner, "You can ride in back with our junkie friend, can't you?"
"Be a pleasure," the man said dryly.
They all got into the car and Kristy smiled over at Frey as they got going along the road. "So, where you from, jellybean?"
The endearment made tears well up in his eyes. "All over," he said, sniffling.
"Hey. Come on, Gallifrey, don't cry." When they hit a red light, she reached into the glove compartment and found a little packet of tissues, handing them to him. "Here."
"Thank you." Frey took them and blew his nose.
"So were you on a family trip to LA and got lost?" Kristy asked once the light turned green.
"I...didn't get lost. I ran away. Which I realize in retrospect was a stupid and childish action but I was upset with my father."
She smiled at his maturity. "Well, that's okay since you are a child. But you really shouldn't run away from your parents like that, especially in an unfamiliar place. You're lucky you found police officers right away and not someone bad who likes to hurt nice little boys like you. Promise me you're not going to do that again."
"I promise Mum-- er, Ms. Police Officer," Frey quickly recovered himself.
"Detective Thomas. And that's Detective Hopper back there."
"Hi, Gallifrey," the man in the backseat said.
At the next traffic light, Kristy leaned conspiratorially into Frey and whispered, "But you can call me Kristy, okay?"
"Okay," Frey said, grinning widely.
Smiling back, Kristy mussed his hair.
The rest of the trip was peaceful, except for the occasional whining from the man they'd just arrested. Frey enjoyed the trip, though. This Kristy was like his mother in that she liked humming to herself. They were all songs Frey knew too and he'd hum along and it made her smile each time he did it. It was the best time he'd had in three years.
But all too soon, the ride was over. They walked into the station and Kristy placed a hand on Frey's back, steering him towards an older female officer. "Okay, I have some stuff I have to do so you can go with Detective Sanchez, Gallifrey."
"No, thank you," Frey said politely but firmly.
"Good, then-" she stopped when she realized what he said. "Excuse me?"
"I said no thank you. I want to stay with you. I won't get in your way, I promise. Please?" He made puppy eyes up at her, hoping to change her mind.
She sighed and bent down to his level. "Kid, come on. I have stuff I need to do that little boys shouldn't have to..." When she saw his eyes go all teary, she gave up. "Come with me to my office." Standing, she took his hand.
"Fantastic!" Frey grinned widely.
"Oh, don't think you're getting your way, mister. I have to talk to you." She led him into an office and had him sit down. "Okay, does your dad have a cellphone?"
"Nope." That was true enough. One could call the TARDIS but that wasn't what she'd meant by a cellphone. So he wasn't really lying.
"Of course not." Kristy rubbed her face with both hands. "Look, I have work I need to go out and do and I can't take you with me. Detective Sanchez-"
"Detective Sanchez may be put in charge or me, but I guarantee I can slip by her in under five minutes and come find you. I want to stay with you."
Kristy gave him a long, hard stare. "How about this: You can stay with me for half an hour while I process that fine gentleman we just brought in. I'll call the person I trust the most in the entire world to come and stay with you after that, okay? Then I'll be back after maybe an hour or so. Okay?"
Frey sighed, sensing she was getting annoyed with him. "That sounds like a fair solution to our problem."
She gave him a little smile. "Okay. This is who I'm going to leave you with." She pulled out her wallet and showed him a photo of his auntie Mary Anne with an unrecognizable blonde man and little girl who looked a lot like the man.
"Okay." Frey nodded at the photo. If he couldn't be with his mummy, auntie Mary Anne was almost as good.
"Okay." Kristy picked up her phone and started dialing.
~*~
Anything for her friends. Mary Anne Bruno drove along a pleasant residential street, ready to save the day. It was a nice change of pace for her; usually it was Kristy or Logan coming to her rescue. But for once she was-
Her car made a horrifying sound and then started to slow down.
"Oh no, no no!" Mary Anne steered it to the side of the street. "Oh you gigantic piece of crap! We just fixed you!!"
Not impressed, the car died promptly after she'd pulled up to the curb.
"Great," Mary Anne growled. She whipped out her cellphone to call Logan and give him a piece of her mind about his crappy mechanic skills but got no signal. Whining softly in the back of her throat, Mary Anne got out of the car and glared balefully at her phone and then back at her car, the source of all her problems. Then she turned and looked up at the pleasant little house before her. Guess she'd have to knock and ask to use their phone.
She made her way up the walk and smiled at the meticulous garden in the front. Someone with a green thumb lived here. Maybe a sweet old lady. She knocked on the door and waited for a response.
Who answered the door was most definitely not a sweet old lady. He had to have been 6'4 or 6'5 and could probably win a fight with a grizzly. The size of him was intimidating but when she looked into his face, her worry shifted to something else entirely. He had the bluest eyes she'd ever seen.
"My car broke down and my cellphone died. Can... can I use your phone?" His sleeves were rolled up and try as she might, she couldn't stop staring at his biceps. They had to have been the size of her head!
The man looked past her to the car and nodded. "Sure." He reached into his pocket and pulled out his own cellphone to hand to her.
"Thank you. They have the nerve to charge the rates they do and then provide inadequate service? Crooks. Um, your phone's dead too." Mary Anne smiled apologetically. Maybe there was something wrong with her? Everything electronic she touched went POOF.
"Oh," the man said, looking puzzled. "Maybe a tower's under maintenance or something." He gave her a half smile. "Hold on, I'll get the cordless."
As he went, she called "Thank you!" after him and stood on the porch, feeling awkward. What was she doing lusting after this man? She was a happily married wife and mother!
The man returned soon with the phone. "Not a problem." He shuffled back a few paces as if to give her privacy without actually leaving.
Mary Anne quickly dialed Logan's cell. "Logan? Hi, honey. The car broke down again; I thought you said you fixed it?" She listened a moment, then laughed. "If you'd fixed it, it wouldn't be broken again, would it?" Another laugh. "I know. I'm at... um." She looked up at the man, embarrassed. "Where am I?"
"412 Anderson Avenue."
"412 Anderson Avenue. I hope you're able to find it because you won't be able to call me for directions; a cell tower's down." She paused and her eyes widened. "I know that's what I said!" She smiled sweetly. "Okay, I love you, too. See ya. Bye honey." She ended the call and handed the phone back to the man. "Thank you. My husband should be here in about twenty minutes."
"Okay then." The man fiddled with the phone and Mary Anne noticed his wedding band. "So, are you ok to sit out in your car...? It's a safe neighborhood."
"Yeah, I'm good. Thanks." She turned to go but then let out a loud gasp of shock. "Wait, I'm sorry, could I use your phone again?"
He handed it back with a grin. "Sure, but anymore and I may start charging you." His wink at that was unintentionally sexy but it still managed to fluster Mary Anne.
"Oh. Sorry, I-I'll make it quick." She dialed with shaking fingers.
"Nah, I was just kidding." He leaned against the doorframe. "Take your time."
She smiled at him sweetly as Kristy's phone rang. "Thank you."
"You're welcome. I know what a pain it is to break down. It was especially a pain in the days before cell phones."
Mary Anne giggled softly. "Yeah, I'll- Kristy? Hey, it's me. I'm so sorry, my car broke down again. Maybe you should try Dawn to watch that kid for you." She listened a long moment then nodded. "Oh, okay, that could work. I already called Logan but I guess- Right. Um, 412 Anderson Ave?" She looked to the man for confirmation and he nodded. "412 Anderson Ave. But a celltower's down; a nice man is letting me use his homephone."
She smiled warmly at him and he shifted his shoulder on the doorframe, smiling back at her.
"Could you call Logan and tell him you'll be picking me up instead and that maybe he should call a tow truck?" She breathed a sigh of relief. "You're the best. Okay see you in a few, then. 'Bye." Ending the call, she handed the phone back to the man. "Change of plans, my friend I was supposed to meet is coming to get me."
"Ok, that's good." He stood awkwardly, staring at her.
Finding herself staring back, Mary Anne forced her eyes away from him. "So, I'll just..." She waved to her car vaguely. "Thanks again, Mr. um...."
"Sergeant Shelten."
Recognizing that name, her eyes widened in surprise. "Y-you're Chad Shelten?"
"Yes? You've heard of me?" he asked, just as surprised.
"Yes, my best friend works in narcotics. Kristy Thomas? She replaced Andrea Battle as Brett Hopper's partner."
"Oh yeah, I know her. She's gotta be pretty tough to put up with Hopper's BS-- er, sorry," he said, looking sheepish.
Mary Anne gave him an amused smile. "She's the toughest person I know. Though she showed her soft side when she introduced my step-sister Dawn to her husband to be. Kevin Callis? I think he's in Internal Affairs."
Sergeant Shelten smiled back widely. "Hey, small world! I work with him. And I think I've seen Dawn. Blonde hair, slim, right?"
That pretty much sounded like anyone in LA but Mary Anne laughed. "That's Dawn. Funny, we have so many mutual acquaintances and I'm only just now meeting you."
"Yeah, that's weird." The phone rang in his hand. "Oh, sorry, I gotta take this real quick." He quickly answered. "Hello? Hey, sweetheart." He turned away from Mary Anne slightly. "Yeah? Oh, a double shift? No, it-- no, really, it's fine. I'll eat a TV dinner or something. Yeah, ok. Don't work too hard." He chuckled. "Ok, love you back. Bye." He hung up and turned back to Mary Anne. "That was my wife. What were we talking about?"
Mary Anne's smile had long since faded. "Nothing. I was just thanking you. I should go back to my car."
"Oh, okay." He looked disappointed, as if he'd just remembered what they'd been talking about. "Well, if you need to use the phone again, you know where to find me."
"Thank you, Sergeant Shelten." She forced a smile, unsure of why she wasn't feeling as happy as she was a moment ago, and turned to leave.
"You're welcome Mrs.-?"
"Bruno. Mary Anne Bruno."
"You're welcome, Mrs. Bruno. I hope you get your car fixed soon." He gestured toward it.
She frowned, walking away. "Yeah, me too."
With all the electricity out of the car, there was no air conditioning. Sighing heavily, Mary Anne sat down behind the wheel and kept the door open to get some cool(er) air circulating. Removing her cardigan, she pulled her students’ homework out of her messenger bag and started correcting.
~*~
Since Rita wasn’t coming home until late, dinner was up to Chad. He glared into the freezer, willing something edible to appear but the box of Salisbury steak continued to exist next to a sack of peas and a can of orange juice concentrate.
“Gross,” he muttered and shut the door. Takeout it was, then. He grabbed his keys out of the bowl on the counter and headed out the door. A few steps out and he saw Mary Anne Bruno out in her car.
His conscience gave him a swift kick in the ass when he saw she was all but dangling out of her overheated car, face flushed. She’d put some reading glasses on and strands of hair fell into her face as she ran a blue pencil over a stack of papers.
“Mrs. Bruno?” he called as he approached her.
She looked up, her adorable look of concentration fading. “Hmmm? Yes?”
When Chad got close, he patted the roof of her car. "No air conditioning, huh? Why don't you come inside until your friend comes? Better than roasting out here."
Her flush intensified. “Oh no, I couldn’t…”
"Nah, it's no trouble. I don't want you to get heatstroke."
A grateful smile crossed her face and he smiled back. “Thank you very much, Sergeant Shelten.” She stuffed the papers into her bag and stepped out of the car. Chad shut the door for her and led her back to the house.
Once inside, Mary Anne closed her eyes and let the cool air pass over her, shivering in delight. Chad smiled and didn’t comment, only showed her into the kitchen once she’d opened her eyes again.
"Thanks again. It seems like you're my hero today." She took a seat at the table and took out the stack of papers once more.
Chad chuckled, and went to the freezer to take out the Salisbury steak. He made an obligatory face at the alleged food item. "I guess I could be. I need a cape or something though."
"Not necessarily. I guess I have heroes on my mind because I assigned my kids a theme they were supposed to write about their own personal heroes. Most kids named their moms or dads. It's very sweet." Smiling, she grabbed some stickers out of her bag and peeled off one that said Great work! and carefully applied it to one of the papers.
“Mmm.” After quickly reading the instructions, Chad popped the meal in the microwave. "My wife and I don't have any kids. So I guess I'm just your hero." He threw her a teasing look over his shoulder.
Mary Anne laughed and blushed. "Do... do you want children?"
Chad shrugged as he got a Cherry Coke out of the fridge. "I did for a long time, but I'm getting kind of up there in years now, and Rita's more focused on her career right now, so I think that ship has sailed."
"Oh. I'm sorry." Biting her lip, she returned to correcting her papers.
Something about this felt familiar. Chad watched her work and tried to shake off his déjà vu. "Do you have kids?"
"Yes. I have a six year old girl named Alma. Here." Smiling proudly, she dug around in her bag for her wallet and opened it, showing him her photo collection of a little blonde girl with bright blue eyes. “She looks just like her daddy.”
He came over for a look. "Aww, she's cute. And Alma's a really unique name. Sorta classic."
"It was my mother's name,” Mary Anne said softly.
"I always wanted to name my daughter after my mother too. But Rita was always against it." His smile turned sad. "Guess it doesn't really matter much now anyway."
Mary Anne surprised him by taking his hand and squeezing comfortingly. He shared a soft smile with her that was unfortunately interrupted by the microwave beeping. She snatched her hand away quickly and he went to get his dinner.
"So Callis is getting hitched, huh?" Chad peeled off the plastic cover and stirred his potatoes.
"Yes, next month.” She looked flustered as she put her Alma pictures away. “I think he said something about inviting everyone from the office. They haven't sent out the invitations yet, so don't think you’ve been slighted or anything."
"Well, it wouldn't surprise me if I was." Not looking at her, he popped the food back in the microwave to finish cooking.
Mary Anne gave him a surprised look. “Why?”
Chad turned and leaned against the counter. "I'm not one to make friends where I work. In fact, I've probably made a few enemies." He shrugged and picked up his Cherry Coke. "They wouldn't want me there."
"But you're so sweet. I can't picture anyone not liking you."
Another strange feeling of familiarity washed over him. "I know. I'm the picture of perfection." He chuckled at his joke even though she didn’t even smile. "Hey, this is gonna sound like it's coming out of nowhere, but have you ever been to visit Callis up in Internal Affairs before?"
"Yeah, once or twice. Usually to get him something he left at home when Dawn couldn't. I mostly go to narcotics to visit Kristy and Brett."
"Ah, that must be why you seem so familiar. I kept getting this vibe that I knew you somehow." The microwave beeped and he turned away.
"I've been getting the same feeling. But I'd remember seeing you, I'm sure of it."
He didn’t turn to look at her as he got a fork out of the drawer. “Yeah, yeah, I know. Everyone calls me Paul Bunyan or Gigantor or some weird thing behind my back. At least, they think it's behind my back." Sitting down across from her with his meal, he still managed to continue not looking at her.
"Oh, I didn't mean it like that!” she exclaimed in alarm. “I just meant that you're attractive, that's all!" Having blurted that out, she slapped her forehead.
Chad looked up at her in surprise and then grinned at her embarrassed face. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She continued her corrections, blushing painfully.
Eating slowly, Chad watched her and tried to subtly spit out the pieces of gristle he found in his meat. Unfortunately, he made more sound than he realized and Mary Anne looked up at him sympathetically.
“That looks disgusting,” she said.
Chad turned the fork upside down and the potatoes clung to the tines though something suspiciously nasty slid right off it. "Well it tastes how it looks."
"Wait just a minute!" She hopped up and ran from the room.
“Uh, okay?”
Moments later, she returned with a cooler in her arms. "My kids and I had a picnic today to celebrate everyone passing their last math exam. There's some leftovers in here if you'd like them."
“Oh, yes I would.” Chad dropped his fork into the cardboard container.
Mary Anne opened the cooler, smiling brightly. "There's some sandwiches... and potato salad... some deviled eggs..."
"I love deviled eggs." He took one and bit into it, spilling some on his shirt.
"Oh! Here..." She grabbed a napkin from the cooler and started wiping at the mess he’d made.
Chad looked down at himself and smirked but seeing Mary Anne taking care of him made his expression gentle as his feelings from before intensified. "Thanks. I'm not usually a slob, I swear..."
"It's okay, we all make mistakes sometimes. I think I got it all." She dabbed a bit more and then took a step back.
"Ok... um, so the sandwiches..." He quickly looked away from her. I’m a married man. “What kind are they?”
"Ham and cheese... turkey.... Uh, I forget what the others are." She swallowed with difficulty. “There’s also fried chicken.”
“Nice!” Chad eagerly rooted around for the chicken. “Thanks for this, Mary Anne.” He realized a second later that this was the first time he used her name out loud.
“You’re welcome, Chad,” she said softly.
He looked pointedly from her to the cooler. "Don't let nothing but fear hold you back."
An impatient honk from outside made her jump. "Oh! That's... that's Kristy. I have to go."
“Oh,” he said, trying to hide his disappointment. “I guess so.”
She started gathering her things together and pulled out a blank sheet of paper that she scribbled on. "Here's my address so you can return the cooler. Or, um, I can come back for it since I know where you live."
"You don't want to just take it now? I mean, you don't have to, but I wasn't going to eat everything if that's what you're thinking."
It was her turn to hide her disappointment. Wilting, she lowered the hand holding her address. “Oh. Okay…”
She was bad at acting so he reached out and took the paper from her. "You know what, I'll bring it to you. You're in a hurry. What day is good for you?"
"Any day, really. Maybe call ahead first? I... put my number down, too." She blushed a little.
Looking down at the paper, Chad grinned. "Ok, I'll be sure to. Let me walk you out."
At the door, they stood there uncertainly like two kids on their first date. After hesitating a moment, Mary Anne stood up on her tiptoes and brushed a soft kiss over Chad’s cheek.
"Thank you for being my hero today,” she said.
"Thanks for being mine. If it weren't for you I'd be eating potato-like paste right now." He smiled softly at her, finding himself swaying just a little closer.
She stared at his lips and nodded stupidly before shaking herself out of her daze. “No problem. Goodbye.” She groped blindly behind her for the doorknob and found it, giving it a sharp turn.
“Goodbye. For now.” He grinned at her, unconsciously giving her his sexy grin.
Mary Anne trotted down the steps and down the drive to the waiting black SUV identical to his. She climbed inside and watched him back as the car drove away.
~*~
After searching desperately for his son for hours, The Doctor didn’t get the idea to go to the police station until a patrol car cruised by him. Of course! He managed to scrape together some bus fare and got to the station, which ate up more time in which Frey could’ve been abducted or killed or exposed to processed sugar.
“Please, you have to help me,” The Doctor told the desk sergeant without preamble. “My son is missing he’s… he’s…. he’s this tall!” He indicated the height in relation to himself, holding his hand out. “And he’s got this hair that’s my color but longer and I keep telling him that he should cut it only he- And he’s got brown eyes! Last time I saw him he was wearing… what was it? Jeans, he likes jeans!”
“His name Frey?” the desk sergeant asked mildly.
“Yes, it’s short for-“ The Doctor jolted. “Is he here?!”
“Yeah, he came in here hours ago with Detective Thomas. Narcotics. Go on up.”
Detective Thomas? No. No, it couldn’t be…
After consulting the directory, The Doctor knew which floor to go to and got into the elevator, cursing the damn thing for not moving fast enough. Stumbling out on the narcotics floor, he grabbed the first officer he saw and demanded to know where Detective Thomas was. Shaken, the man pointed to an office and The Doctor hurried towards it, stopping dead in his tracks in the doorway.
It was Kristy. Her hair was shorter than when he’d last seen her, she certainly wore more makeup, and her clothing was much more… daring. Her tiny black tank top exposed not only part of her tummy, which he was used to, but her bra straps as well. Also black. With metal rods wedged into the straps.
Frey sat on top of the desk, a sketchpad in his lap. He looked happy and safe. Some of the tension The Doctor had been carrying in his shoulders all day faded away.
"And he had a scar on his left cheek that ran down to his chin..." Kristy said, running a finger down her face, tracing the imaginary scar.
“Uh huh,” Frey muttered, scribbling away. Other sketches littered the ground around him, showing that they’d been at this game for awhile.
He and Kristy had always enjoyed playing games together. They’d been so close. The Doctor had tried to fill that gap for his son but clearly he’d been failing miserably all this time, otherwise Frey would never have pulled a stunt like this. Seeing his love and their child together once more, tears started to well up in his eyes.
Pulling himself together, The Doctor cleared his throat. “Excuse me?”
Kristy and Frey looked at him. “Can I help you?” Kristy asked as Frey wilted at the sight of him.
"Yes, I was looking for my little runaway. And here he is, quite content where he is too, I might add." The Doctor nodded at Frey, who was starting to look miserable.
"Oh! You're Gallifrey's dad, then." She stood up and stretched, smiling. "And here I was worried this story wouldn't have a happy ending. Cute kid, by the way.”
"Thank you; he takes after his mother." The Doctor crossed to Frey and knelt before him. Frey looked away and The Doctor leaned close to whisper to him. "I know this is making you happy, but it's not her. She just looks like her, alright?"
"It's her. She calls me jellybean,” Frey said stubbornly.
“Gallifrey? Is everything okay?” Kristy asked, starting to look concerned.
"Son, it's the parallel her, not the one who gave birth to you,” The Doctor said, squeezing Frey’s shoulder. “Please understand; I would love for this one to be her, but she's not."
When Frey started to tear up and sob, Kristy hurried to him and knelt down beside The Doctor to pull Frey into her arms. “Ohhh, jellybean, don’t cry.”
"He-- We lost his mother and, it's been difficult... and you look a great deal like her... I'm sorry." The Doctor kept his attention focused on Frey, trying not to let his tears fall.
Kristy’s jaw dropped. "Oh, I'm so sorry. This must be hard for both of you." She gently stroked Frey’s cheek. "You should go with your Dad now. Once you two are back at your hotel and... have a talk or something, you'll feel better."
Frey was quick to jump on that. "But- but we haven't a place to stay! Could we stay with you? Please?"
The Doctor sighed, having had a long day and wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep his patience. “Frey… that’s impossible.”
"Please, just for a few days. Please let us stay." Fully crying now, Frey burrowed into Kristy’s arms. Over the boy’s shoulder, Kristy gave The Doctor a look that said I don’t know what to do here!
"We're not meant to be here, Frey. We have to go... and close the door behind us,” he slyly hinted, meaning that they had to fix the hole they’d made in time to get here.
“Then you go. Let me stay.” Frey sniffled as Kristy rubbed circles into his back, shushing him.
“I can’t do that. I made a promise.” He could picture Kristy insisting he get Frey to safety, her lips blue and teeth chattering, looking so tired. If he had to leave her behind, there was no way he was going to do the same with their child.
“Don’t you-” Frey started to argue back when another police officer popped into the room.
"Hey, have you seen the news?" He saw the little moment they were having and looked awkward. “Uh…”
“What news?” Kristy asked, still rubbing Frey’s back.
"Just... this spaceship thing heading our way." The cop backed out and left.
Eyes widening, The Doctor shared a look with Frey.
“C-can we turn on the telly and see?” Frey asked.
“Sure.” Letting Frey go, Kristy went to the small tv on the filing cabinet and turned it on. The screen automatically showed a satellite photo of a ship or something headed for the earth, as the news anchor narrated events nervously. "Ugh. It's like something out of science fiction..."
“We have to stay and help now,” Frey said, sniffling.
The Doctor held his hand out to him. “Will you help me?”
Instead of going to his father, Frey went to Kristy and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Can we stay with you, Kristy?”
"I'd be happy to have you but it's up to you dad, jellybean,” she said absently, watching the news with morbid fascination.
The Doctor pondered that for a moment. "We can stay for a little while, just until this is all cleared up." Frey beamed and ran over to give him a big hug.
“Creepy.” Kristy shivered and turned the tv off then looked at the boys. "Well! I'm ready to go home now. So you guys can just... you don't have any luggage?"
“Um, not at the moment,” The Doctor said.
“Was it stolen?” Kristy asked, going into cop mode.
“Nooo… just misplaced.”
"Okay. Maybe we can do something about that tomorrow." She led the way out of the office and called over her shoulder, “I’m starving; who wants burgers?”
~*~
It was late when they finished their meal at the In ‘n Out burger and all three of them were ready to bed once they made it to Kristy’s tiny apartment. The Doctor helped Kristy take the cushions off the couch and pull out the folding bed.
“Hope you two don’t mind sharing a bed,” Kristy said as she and Frey put sheets on the mattress. Some blankets were stacked nearby along with some pillows which The Doctor threw on once the sheets were smoothed out.
“Not at all,” The Doctor said and looked at Frey, who was frowning but didn’t say anything.
"Okay. I'm exhausted. You guys can watch a little tv or help yourself to anything in the fridge but try to keep it down, okay? I have to be up early tomorrow." Giving them a smile, Kristy started to head off to her room.
“Wait!” Frey called, making her stop.
“What’s up?” she asked.
“Can I have a kiss goodnight?”
Kristy’s eyes went wide and she looked at The Doctor. “Oh…”
The Doctor gave a fake laugh and wrapped his arm around Frey’s chest to keep him in place. "Son, let's not scare the nice lady who took us in, alright?"
"It... it's okay. He just took me by surprise. Come here, jelly bean." The Doctor had no choice but to let Frey go. The boy ran over to Kristy and she bent down, smiling sadly, to gently kiss his forehead. “Goodnight, Gallifrey.”
“Goodnight Mu- Kristy.”
After touching his hair softly, she went off to bed. Frey watched her go with a happy smile on his face then went back to the bed, burrowing under the covers. After a moment of thought, he grabbed the television remote control.
"You know, she'll be harder to let go if you keep behaving this way." The Doctor sighed, kicking off his shoes and taking off his jacket.
Frey ignored him and continued watching cartoons.
"You have any idea how badly I want to take her in my arms and kiss her?" The Doctor crawled under the covers next to Frey, smiling sadly. "But she'd beat me to a pulp because she's not mine and I'm not hers." Staring off into the distance, he pictured his Kristy grinning at him. “Not mine.”
"She can become yours. And mine." Frey spared his father a quick glance and then went back to the cartoons.
"Maybe she could, but she has her own life here, and... she isn't my Kristy. I'll never love anyone but my darling dearheart, and no matter how much they're alike, right down to the blood in their veins, she isn't the woman I gave my heart to."
"But she's the closest thing we have to her." Frey started to tear up again.
The Doctor wrapped his arm around him, starting to get a little misty himself. "I know. But close isn't enough."
"It is for me. I've missed her so much." Frey pressed his face into The Doctor’s chest.
Hugging his son, The Doctor said, "So have I. But I don't want to replace her. Please, don't ask me to."
Both of them sat there in silence for several minutes. Then Frey pulled away to turn the tv off and got settled under the covers. In moments, Frey was asleep.
The Doctor wasn’t as lucky as that and stayed awake for many hours, staring up at the ceiling.
~*~
Eventually, The Doctor must have fallen asleep because in the wee hours of the morning he jerked awake to find Frey was gone.
“Frey?” He sat up and looked around the tiny living room, not seeing his son anywhere. Sighing, he threw back the covers. “That boy gets in more trouble…” He got up and checked in the hall closet and the bathroom. There was only one other place to check and The Doctor rolled his eyes. “Let me guess…”
When he quietly opened Kristy’s bedroom door, Frey was curled up next to her in bed. Awake, Kristy held him close and stroked his hair comfortingly and her gaze lifted from the child to The Doctor, smiling at him.
"Morning,” she said quietly. “Somebody was sleep wandering."
"I'm quite sure he wasn't asleep." He paused a moment before saying, "He thinks you could be his mother."
Her eyes widened at that but she continued to stroke the boy’s hair. "Wow. I'd be a terrible mother, though. He deserves much better."
"He had the best mother a child could ask for."
“When did she die?”
“It was three years ago,” he said, starting to get choked up. He never had to talk about Kristy’s death and it was a difficult thing to have to remind himself every moment that she was gone.
“Hey,” Kristy said softly. She sat up and patted the edge of the bed and he went and sat down. She reached out and touched his wrist. “I’m sorry.”
The Doctor looked down at their hands and nodded.
"I'm sure the two of you made her a very happy woman." She gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "I don't think she'd like seeing the two of you so miserable."
“No, she wouldn’t,” he agreed with a tiny smile. “She'd say, 'Stop throwing yourself a pity party and move on!'"
Surprised, Kristy giggled but quickly caught the sound in her hand so she wouldn’t wake Frey up. The Doctor smiled at her. "I have a feeling you'd say something similar?"
"Well, I don't know. It sounds like something blunt and to the point I'd say." She reached over and tapped his chin. "Hey, what do you know, your mouth *does* go the other way."
At this familiar bit of gentle teasing, The Doctor brightened. "It's been known to do that from time to time."
“Looks good on you.”
It felt good, too. He couldn’t even remember the last time he’d really smiled. Looking at his sleeping child, he amended that thought. Yeah, he could. "He's dead set on staying here with you."
“I…” She looked down at Frey as well. "A part of me is terrified of the idea but... this other part just..." Her gaze returned to The Doctor, confusion spreading across her features. "I think I'm falling in love with your little boy. I don't know why but it's just this... feeling. This connection. It's so weird."
He swallowed hard. “Do you want to know why that is?”
Kristy snorted. "I think it's my biological clock ticking. At least that's what my mother would say."
"That's not the reason. The real reason might seem a bit unbelievable, but I know you'll eventually believe me."
"What are you talking about?" she asked, looking at him strangely.
"What if I told you that this isn't the only Earth? That there are several parallel Earths, and each one has a Kristy Thomas on it, that is exactly like you."
"I'd think you were smoking the special crack." She started to draw away from him.
"Yes, well... sometimes I think life would be simpler if I was. The point is, on one of these parallel Earths, I met Kristy Thomas, about to graduate from the University of Connecticut." He watched her eyes go wide. "She left her family, mother, stepfather, sisters, brothers, all of them, to travel around with me. We fell in love, and Gallifrey is our son. He's the son of the parallel you."
For a moment she didn’t respond. Finally, she snapped, “Who the hell are you?”
He winced at her tone. “I’m The Doctor.”
“Doctor Who?” she demanded, wrapping a protective arm around Frey.
“Just The Doctor.” He shrugged.
"Uh huh. And on an Alternate Earth we met and..." She trailed off, looking at him disbelievingly.
"Not you, per se. My Kristy. She said she didn't like me much at first, but she liked my freckles." The Doctor gazed sadly off into space.
Though she wasn’t quite sure she bought all this crap about alternate universes, he was doing a good job of pulling off a convincing act. "Your freckles are kind of cute,” she begrudgingly admitted.
“Oh… thank you.”
"You're welcome. I guess." Kristy stroked Frey’s back. “You realize you sound batshit insane, right?”
"Naturally. I always do. But it's undeniable that you feel a connection to my son." To illustrate his point, he nodded at her hand on the child’s back.
He had her there. "I do. He's so..."
"Yeah,” The Doctor agreed. “He's everything..."
"Everything you have left of her."
The Doctor nodded silently.
Kristy finally looked back at him again and considered him carefully a moment. "It's still early. Do you want to lay down with us?"
They used to spend some mornings like that, when Frey had been smaller. In the wee hours, he’d sneak into Mummy and Daddy’s room and slip under the covers with them. Usually, he’d wedge himself right between them. On one memorable occasion, he not only squeezed himself right in the middle but fell asleep again only to shift horizontally, with his head resting on Kristy’s stomach and his feet gouging into the small of The Doctor’s back. He’d been annoyed but he’d rolled over to face Kristy to find her smiling at him. Out of nowhere, she started to giggle. He only had to raise his eyebrows expressively for her to express her thought.
“He’s turned us into an ‘H’.”
They both had had to bury their faces in the pillows to muffle their laughter.
Now, The Doctor swallowed with difficulty and backed away from this Kristy-yet-not-Kristy. "Nah, I think I'd better turn on the telly. See what's happening out there."
“All right.” She pulled Frey closer and closed her eyes, ready to fall back to sleep as The Doctor high-tailed it out of the room.
~*~
This looked like the kind of place she’d live. Chad stared at the sunshine-yellow house and checked the house numbers with the address Mary Anne had written out neatly for him. This was the place. Taking a deep breath, he lugged the cooler full of empty Tupperware containers with him across the freshly cut lawn.
Just get this over with, Shelten. Don’t spend a lot of time here. She’s cute but she’s married and so are you. You don’t need to be looking around at other…
He rang the doorbell and heavy footsteps ran pell mell for the door. “I’ll get it!!!” The door was thrown wide by a little blonde girl in a pink t-shirt and overalls. She stared solemnly up at Chad. Alma was her name, he remembered.
“Hi,” he said cheerfully. “Is your mommy home?”
“Who may I ask is calling, please?” she asked properly.
Chad grinned. “Sergeant Shelten. I’ve come to return the cooler your mommy was nice enough to lend to me.”
Just then, Mary Anne appeared just behind Alma, face flushed. “Alma, what have I told you about answering the door to strangers? Did you even look through the window first like we tell you?”
“No.” The girl blinked her big forget-me-not eyes up at her mother and Mary Anne sighed, giving in and gently squeezing her daughter’s shoulder.
“Well, do that, next time. For now, why don’t you go play out in the backyard, okay?” Alma dashed off and Mary Anne let out a breath, smiling up at Chad. “Hi.”
“Hi,” he said back, staring at her. She looked adorable in a white peasant top and jean skirt, hair spilling over her shoulders. She stared right back at him before shaking herself.
“Oh! God, I’m so rude. Come in, please, Chad.” She took a step back, allowing him to enter her home.
The place was neat and decorated nicely; Mary Anne had good taste. Pictures of family and friends were scattered here and there on the walls and on the table next to the door as well as a piano in the corner of the living room. He wondered if Alma was taking lessons.
“I’ll just take this into the kitchen.” Mary Anne took the cooler from him and led the way into the next room, presumably the kitchen. “Did you like everything?” she called over her shoulder.
“Yeah, it was delicious,” he said.
Mary Anne laughed. “It should be; I didn’t cook any of it. I just picked it up at the grocery store.”
He chuckled. “Cheater.”
Laughing along with him, Mary Anne set the cooler on the counter and started taking Tupperware containers out. “Oh, you already cleaned these? You’re a prince!”
“I don’t think princes clean their own dishes,” Chad pointed out, standing in the middle of the sunny yellow kitchen that matched the house’s exterior. The soft smile she gave him made him feel warm all over. Get a grip, Shelten.
She set about putting everything away. “Thanks so much for bringing this back. A lesser man would’ve kept all of these fancy shmancy Tupperware containers.”
“We have enough of those at home. But I have to admit, I was a little tempted.”
Mary Anne looked at him, face flushing. “Were you?” she asked breathlessly.
Chad swallowed, not sure how to respond. “I, uh…” He was cut off short by a blood-curdling shriek from outside. Alma. He jerked and was shocked when Mary Anne’s response was annoyance.
“Oh god damn it!” She grabbed a broom from between the refrigerator and the wall and ran out through the connecting dining room and the sliding glass door leading out to the yard. Chad followed.
Alma clung to the top of her swingset, screaming shrilly as a large black dog barked up at her. He didn’t look particularly dangerous, but the dog was quite big and it didn’t surprise Chad that it scared the little girl. Apparently this was a regular thing.
Mary Anne ran at the dog with the broom and bopped it a good one on its snout. The dog whined and backed away. “Get out of here you nasty thing!” Mary Anne shook the cleaning implement at the dog. “Go on! What’d I tell you last time?!”
Wisely, the dog turned tail and ran to the gate, Mary Anne following it. She closed the gate and slid the latch shut, muttering to herself. “I keep telling him to fix this damn latch.” Turning, she came back out into the yard, dropping the broom and opening her arms at the bottom of the swingset. “Okay, sweetpea, he’s gone. Come on down.”
Alma slid down the pole into her mother’s arms and turned big eyes on Chad. “Angus is a mean doggie!”
“It sure looked that way,” Chad agreed.
They went back into the house and Mary Anne poured some chocolate milk into a Strawberry Shortcake cup to help Alma recover from her ordeal. Mary Anne offered Chad some lemonade, which he politely accepted.
“You know what Angus did once?” Alma put her cup down, unaware of the chocolate milk mustache on her face. “He ran off with one of my Barbies once. Mommy ran after him with Daddy's baseball bat and got it back for me. One of her legs was kind of chewy, though."
"Ah, well those are battle scars,” Chad said, nodding knowingly.
Alma beamed. "Barbie has babble scars, Mommy!"
"Battle scars, honey. And yes she does."
The little girl took a big gulp of her chocolate milk and it spilled down her chin. Mary Anne laughed at the mess instead of getting annoyed like Chad’s mother would have. "Sweetpea, lady-like sips, please." She got up to get some napkins to clean up the mess.
"Are you a p'leece officer, Sergeant Shelten? Or are you a army man?"
“I’m a police officer.”
"Do you pull people over and eat donuts and stuff?"
Chad laughed. "Not anymore. I have a desk job now."
Alma’s eyes widened. "I'm not allowed to eat at my desk, either. Heidi Flowers brought candy to school once and we all got in trouble."
"Ah, well I wouldn't get in trouble. I just don't happen to eat donuts anymore."
Not liking treats anymore? This concept went above Alma’s head and she frowned, having to think the matter over.
The front door opened and a voice with a thick southern accent called, “Ahm hoooome!”
“Daddy!” Alma squealed and hopped off her chair, running excitedly out of the room.
Just like that, the little domestic scene he’d been weaving himself into was shattered. Chad quickly stood up, looking at his watch. "Wow, I didn't realize it was so late. I should be getting home."
"Oh. Yes, I- I suppose that-" Mary Anne started to say, looking stricken.
A handsome blonde man younger than Chad came in with Alma on his hip, grinning widely. "Alma wants me ta meet her new best friend. You must be the one who helped mah wife yesterday when the car gave her trouble."
"Yeah, Chad Shelten." Chad shook the man’s – Logan’s – hand. "I was returning the cooler Mary Anne left."
Logan nodded, seeing the cooler on the counter. "Right. So you're the reason I won’t be eatin' leftovers this weekend." He winked. "Thanks for takin' care o' her for me, Shelten."
"Wasn't a problem." Chad stuffed his hands into his pockets, feeling like an interloper. "Well, I should be going. The wife'll be home soon."
“Better get to her, then,” Logan agreed then turned his grin to Mary Anne. "Miss me, baby girl?"
Looking uncomfortable but smiling anyway, Mary Anne went to her husband and gave him a kiss.
"Right, well thanks again for the food,” Chad said quickly, needing to be out of there. “Nice meeting you two,” he told Logan and Alma.
"Will you come visit again, some time?" Alma asked hopefully.
"Oh I dunno, I might."
Alma’s face lit up and the adults all laughed. The Brunos walked Chad out and stood on the porch as Chad walked to his car. Logan set Alma down and she bounced up and down, waving goodbye to him exuberantly.
“By-ay-ay-ay-ay!” she called as she bounced.
Chad chuckled as he drove away and he’d barely turned out of the neighborhood before his need to see Mary Anne again came back.
~*~
Kristy had picked up some pasta and made tortellini for dinner. The three of them sat around the table and joked together, talking about their respective days. The atmosphere was comfortable and relaxed.
"Kristy, look! Look!" Frey opened his mouth to proudly display his chewed food.
"Ewwwwww!" Kristy laughed.
"I guess you like 'seafood,” The Doctor quipped, making the other two groan at his lame joke, but they all kept smiling.
“You guys are nuts,” Kristy said affectionately.
Frey started giggling and dropped his head to Kristy’s shoulder. Unthinkingly, she gently rubbed her cheek against the top of his head and The Doctor had to look down at his plate.
It’d been Kristy’s idea to put the radio on while they ate. Right in the middle of “Good Day Sunshine” a news bulletin cut in. “The ships have now entered Earth’s atmosphere,” the news correspondent reported nervously. “A message of forewarning has been issued but officials have yet to share what the beings have said. Speculation is that the group is hostile. Authorities ask you to stay in your homes and keep all doors and windows closed and locked and turn off all electronics.”
Kristy stood up and switched off the radio. "Come on. I'm taking you two to the station."
“Why the station?” Frey asked, taking her hand.
"Because it's safer. I don't want anything happening to either of you." With that, they abandoned their meal and were out the door.
Continued in Part II
Title: Chapter Sixteen - Alternate Los Angeles (Part 1)
Author: toxic_corn and nutmeg610
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Characters belong to Ann M. Martin, Scholastic Books, and the BBC. Sometimes ABC even. And NBC. Okay, practically no one is ours, okay? We aren't collecting any money so pretty please don't sue? We're both broke college students.
Summary: Kristy Thomas has been doing well since her days as president of the Babysitters Club. She's about to graduate from the University of Connecticut and her best friend's finacee can get her a place in the LAPD. It looks like her future is set until a strange man in a magic blue box shows up and changes everything...
Authors' Note: Yet another pairing in the crack series. We found the idea of The Doctor having to put up with the blunt, bossy Kristy to be funny and from there the story grew. If you think that now we are officially certifiable, you're most likely right. This follows the other stories in the crack series: Your Boyfriend Snorts Cocaine, Mary Anne and Wanna Get It On, Dawn?
Wow, this one was too big for LJ! Split up in two parts.
Catch up on earlier chapters at the organizational post.
Hey, Mary Anne? It's Kristy, pick up. Come on, I have a big favor to ask you, I need you to-"
- answering machine message from Detective Kristy Thomas to Mary Anne Bruno
"You're nine years old now, Frey," The Doctor said, hands in his pockets.
"I am," Frey agreed.
"So I think that's old enough for you to pick our destination and fly us there. What'd you think?"
Frey's face lit up. "Really, Dad? Can I?"
"Of course! Hop to."
Grinning, Frey stood at the controls and did what he'd watched his father do for years. The TARDIS lurched and soon they were headed to Frey's chosen destination.
"By the by son, where are we headed?" The Doctor called.
"Los Angeles!" Frey shouted, grinning. "May 3, 2019!"
"Oh," The Doctor said, surprised. "You want to see your aunties Mary Anne and Dawn?"
Frey didn't respond, making The Doctor frown. They hadn't seen any of Kristy's family and friends since her death. It would be a terrible thing to have to explain. And they'd all be disappointed at seeing Frey so grown up and knowing they'd missed years of the boy's life. He knew it was selfish to keep Frey away but having to face her family... there'd be recriminations. And he'd have to face up to the fact that she was really gone.
The TARDIS came to a stop and Frey ran excitedly to the doors.
"Wait for me!" The Doctor dashed after him and throwing open the doors, they found themselves in a parking lot outside a warehouse. The air was hot and stuffy, polluted. Why had Frey dropped them here and not in the Shelten backyard or better yet, the Callis's?
"We're here," Frey said to himself, looking around happily.
"Yes, we-" The Doctor cut himself off when he looked at the wall and saw a campaign flier for a candidate he didn't recognize. He knew the people who were supposed to run this year and the name didn't even ring a bell in his mind. Suspicion started to creep over his features. "Frey... this isn't the Earth we know, is it?"
Again, Frey didn't respond. He just stood there and stared sullenly at him.
Suspicion was replaced immediately by anger. "How could you do this?! You know you cause irreparable damage when you bust holes in space to get to these alternate worlds! How could you be so deliberately thick?!"
"Because I'm sick of you!" Frey screamed tearfully. "I want Mummy!"
"Well you can't! She's de--" He faltered, not wanting to say it. "She's gone."
"She's not dead here! Because she didn't meet you and you...." his features contorted with the grief and anger he was feeling. "You didn't save her!!"
Having his own thoughts thrown back at him in such a way felt like a punch to the gut. "Is that what you think?" He looked away, unable to bear the accusation and resentment his son had been harboring for apparently some time. "I could only save you, Frey. And I would have dove in after her but you needed me."
"She's dead and it's your fault! You were always going off on your own and leaving us behind! Now I'm leaving you!" With that, the boy ran off sobbing.
"Frey! Come back!" The Doctor took off after him but he wasn't as spry as he used to be and couldn't compare to the energy a nine year old had. It didn't take long for him to lose his son and The Doctor stared at where the child had been. "Frey!!! FREY!"
A tear slipped down his cheek and he rubbed it away angrily with the back of his hand. He wasn't going to lose another member of his family if he could help it.
When he could no longer hear his father's shouts, Frey slowed down. He wasn't completely sure where he was. The idea was to get to the police station; when his mother had been in school, she'd been planning on joining the LAPD. Hopefully, she was in this city as an officer of the law and this wasn't one of the worlds in which her parents hadn't met.
Oh, bother. He hadn't thought that likelihood through very well. It wasn't as if these alternate worlds were labeled or anything convenient like that.
Just ahead of him, a scary-looking emaciated man leapt over the fence out of an alley and took off at a panicked scramble. A tiny figure in a leather jacket leapt next and caught up easily with the man, slamming him into a car. As she did so, a black man came out of the car, looking amused.
The tiny figure - a woman - whipped out a pair of cuffs and put them on the man. "Now, what part of 'freeze' sounded like 'Run as fast as you can?' I'm just so curious!"
The man grunted, not sounding happy.
"You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney...." The woman continued reading the man's rights but Frey wasn't really listening to the words. It was his mother. All he could do was gawk.
She looked a little harder than his mother was. Her hair was a little shorter, held back in a ponytail. He couldn't recall his mother ever wearing leather. Or jeans with holes in the knees. Or boots.
"Hey, little man." The black man called to him. "This isn't a good place for you. You lost?"
Frey managed to tear his eyes from the other Kristy and shook his head at the man.
At that moment, the other Kristy looked around at him with no recognition in his eyes, making his heart sink. "Do we have a stray running around?"
"Looks like."
Sighing, the other Kristy put her captured man into the back of the car. "Terrific." She came over and knelt down in front of Frey. Once their gazes locked, she appeared startled, as if she was sensing the connection they shared. She recovered herself quickly. "Hey, sweetie. What's your name?"
He could feel his lip quivering as he answered, "Gallifrey."
She had a moment where she boggled at his strange name but remained cool. "Gallifrey. Do you live around here?"
Frey shook his head and touched her face, trying to convince himself that this was real.
Kristy blinked, moved by the gesture and unsure why. "Is... your mommy or daddy somewhere nearby?"
Again, he shook his head. "Do you recognize me?"
She shook hers back. "No. You kind of look like my brother David Michael when he was your age, though. Nine, right?"
"Yes."
"Well.... shit. I mean uh, crap." She sent a whoops look to her partner who shrugged back at her. "Well, Gallifrey, would you like to come down to the station with us? Maybe we can find your parents."
"Sure," Frey said. He didn't really care about finding his father; he just wanted to be with her.
"Okay. Let's go, then." She took his hand and said to her partner, "You can ride in back with our junkie friend, can't you?"
"Be a pleasure," the man said dryly.
They all got into the car and Kristy smiled over at Frey as they got going along the road. "So, where you from, jellybean?"
The endearment made tears well up in his eyes. "All over," he said, sniffling.
"Hey. Come on, Gallifrey, don't cry." When they hit a red light, she reached into the glove compartment and found a little packet of tissues, handing them to him. "Here."
"Thank you." Frey took them and blew his nose.
"So were you on a family trip to LA and got lost?" Kristy asked once the light turned green.
"I...didn't get lost. I ran away. Which I realize in retrospect was a stupid and childish action but I was upset with my father."
She smiled at his maturity. "Well, that's okay since you are a child. But you really shouldn't run away from your parents like that, especially in an unfamiliar place. You're lucky you found police officers right away and not someone bad who likes to hurt nice little boys like you. Promise me you're not going to do that again."
"I promise Mum-- er, Ms. Police Officer," Frey quickly recovered himself.
"Detective Thomas. And that's Detective Hopper back there."
"Hi, Gallifrey," the man in the backseat said.
At the next traffic light, Kristy leaned conspiratorially into Frey and whispered, "But you can call me Kristy, okay?"
"Okay," Frey said, grinning widely.
Smiling back, Kristy mussed his hair.
The rest of the trip was peaceful, except for the occasional whining from the man they'd just arrested. Frey enjoyed the trip, though. This Kristy was like his mother in that she liked humming to herself. They were all songs Frey knew too and he'd hum along and it made her smile each time he did it. It was the best time he'd had in three years.
But all too soon, the ride was over. They walked into the station and Kristy placed a hand on Frey's back, steering him towards an older female officer. "Okay, I have some stuff I have to do so you can go with Detective Sanchez, Gallifrey."
"No, thank you," Frey said politely but firmly.
"Good, then-" she stopped when she realized what he said. "Excuse me?"
"I said no thank you. I want to stay with you. I won't get in your way, I promise. Please?" He made puppy eyes up at her, hoping to change her mind.
She sighed and bent down to his level. "Kid, come on. I have stuff I need to do that little boys shouldn't have to..." When she saw his eyes go all teary, she gave up. "Come with me to my office." Standing, she took his hand.
"Fantastic!" Frey grinned widely.
"Oh, don't think you're getting your way, mister. I have to talk to you." She led him into an office and had him sit down. "Okay, does your dad have a cellphone?"
"Nope." That was true enough. One could call the TARDIS but that wasn't what she'd meant by a cellphone. So he wasn't really lying.
"Of course not." Kristy rubbed her face with both hands. "Look, I have work I need to go out and do and I can't take you with me. Detective Sanchez-"
"Detective Sanchez may be put in charge or me, but I guarantee I can slip by her in under five minutes and come find you. I want to stay with you."
Kristy gave him a long, hard stare. "How about this: You can stay with me for half an hour while I process that fine gentleman we just brought in. I'll call the person I trust the most in the entire world to come and stay with you after that, okay? Then I'll be back after maybe an hour or so. Okay?"
Frey sighed, sensing she was getting annoyed with him. "That sounds like a fair solution to our problem."
She gave him a little smile. "Okay. This is who I'm going to leave you with." She pulled out her wallet and showed him a photo of his auntie Mary Anne with an unrecognizable blonde man and little girl who looked a lot like the man.
"Okay." Frey nodded at the photo. If he couldn't be with his mummy, auntie Mary Anne was almost as good.
"Okay." Kristy picked up her phone and started dialing.
Anything for her friends. Mary Anne Bruno drove along a pleasant residential street, ready to save the day. It was a nice change of pace for her; usually it was Kristy or Logan coming to her rescue. But for once she was-
Her car made a horrifying sound and then started to slow down.
"Oh no, no no!" Mary Anne steered it to the side of the street. "Oh you gigantic piece of crap! We just fixed you!!"
Not impressed, the car died promptly after she'd pulled up to the curb.
"Great," Mary Anne growled. She whipped out her cellphone to call Logan and give him a piece of her mind about his crappy mechanic skills but got no signal. Whining softly in the back of her throat, Mary Anne got out of the car and glared balefully at her phone and then back at her car, the source of all her problems. Then she turned and looked up at the pleasant little house before her. Guess she'd have to knock and ask to use their phone.
She made her way up the walk and smiled at the meticulous garden in the front. Someone with a green thumb lived here. Maybe a sweet old lady. She knocked on the door and waited for a response.
Who answered the door was most definitely not a sweet old lady. He had to have been 6'4 or 6'5 and could probably win a fight with a grizzly. The size of him was intimidating but when she looked into his face, her worry shifted to something else entirely. He had the bluest eyes she'd ever seen.
"My car broke down and my cellphone died. Can... can I use your phone?" His sleeves were rolled up and try as she might, she couldn't stop staring at his biceps. They had to have been the size of her head!
The man looked past her to the car and nodded. "Sure." He reached into his pocket and pulled out his own cellphone to hand to her.
"Thank you. They have the nerve to charge the rates they do and then provide inadequate service? Crooks. Um, your phone's dead too." Mary Anne smiled apologetically. Maybe there was something wrong with her? Everything electronic she touched went POOF.
"Oh," the man said, looking puzzled. "Maybe a tower's under maintenance or something." He gave her a half smile. "Hold on, I'll get the cordless."
As he went, she called "Thank you!" after him and stood on the porch, feeling awkward. What was she doing lusting after this man? She was a happily married wife and mother!
The man returned soon with the phone. "Not a problem." He shuffled back a few paces as if to give her privacy without actually leaving.
Mary Anne quickly dialed Logan's cell. "Logan? Hi, honey. The car broke down again; I thought you said you fixed it?" She listened a moment, then laughed. "If you'd fixed it, it wouldn't be broken again, would it?" Another laugh. "I know. I'm at... um." She looked up at the man, embarrassed. "Where am I?"
"412 Anderson Avenue."
"412 Anderson Avenue. I hope you're able to find it because you won't be able to call me for directions; a cell tower's down." She paused and her eyes widened. "I know that's what I said!" She smiled sweetly. "Okay, I love you, too. See ya. Bye honey." She ended the call and handed the phone back to the man. "Thank you. My husband should be here in about twenty minutes."
"Okay then." The man fiddled with the phone and Mary Anne noticed his wedding band. "So, are you ok to sit out in your car...? It's a safe neighborhood."
"Yeah, I'm good. Thanks." She turned to go but then let out a loud gasp of shock. "Wait, I'm sorry, could I use your phone again?"
He handed it back with a grin. "Sure, but anymore and I may start charging you." His wink at that was unintentionally sexy but it still managed to fluster Mary Anne.
"Oh. Sorry, I-I'll make it quick." She dialed with shaking fingers.
"Nah, I was just kidding." He leaned against the doorframe. "Take your time."
She smiled at him sweetly as Kristy's phone rang. "Thank you."
"You're welcome. I know what a pain it is to break down. It was especially a pain in the days before cell phones."
Mary Anne giggled softly. "Yeah, I'll- Kristy? Hey, it's me. I'm so sorry, my car broke down again. Maybe you should try Dawn to watch that kid for you." She listened a long moment then nodded. "Oh, okay, that could work. I already called Logan but I guess- Right. Um, 412 Anderson Ave?" She looked to the man for confirmation and he nodded. "412 Anderson Ave. But a celltower's down; a nice man is letting me use his homephone."
She smiled warmly at him and he shifted his shoulder on the doorframe, smiling back at her.
"Could you call Logan and tell him you'll be picking me up instead and that maybe he should call a tow truck?" She breathed a sigh of relief. "You're the best. Okay see you in a few, then. 'Bye." Ending the call, she handed the phone back to the man. "Change of plans, my friend I was supposed to meet is coming to get me."
"Ok, that's good." He stood awkwardly, staring at her.
Finding herself staring back, Mary Anne forced her eyes away from him. "So, I'll just..." She waved to her car vaguely. "Thanks again, Mr. um...."
"Sergeant Shelten."
Recognizing that name, her eyes widened in surprise. "Y-you're Chad Shelten?"
"Yes? You've heard of me?" he asked, just as surprised.
"Yes, my best friend works in narcotics. Kristy Thomas? She replaced Andrea Battle as Brett Hopper's partner."
"Oh yeah, I know her. She's gotta be pretty tough to put up with Hopper's BS-- er, sorry," he said, looking sheepish.
Mary Anne gave him an amused smile. "She's the toughest person I know. Though she showed her soft side when she introduced my step-sister Dawn to her husband to be. Kevin Callis? I think he's in Internal Affairs."
Sergeant Shelten smiled back widely. "Hey, small world! I work with him. And I think I've seen Dawn. Blonde hair, slim, right?"
That pretty much sounded like anyone in LA but Mary Anne laughed. "That's Dawn. Funny, we have so many mutual acquaintances and I'm only just now meeting you."
"Yeah, that's weird." The phone rang in his hand. "Oh, sorry, I gotta take this real quick." He quickly answered. "Hello? Hey, sweetheart." He turned away from Mary Anne slightly. "Yeah? Oh, a double shift? No, it-- no, really, it's fine. I'll eat a TV dinner or something. Yeah, ok. Don't work too hard." He chuckled. "Ok, love you back. Bye." He hung up and turned back to Mary Anne. "That was my wife. What were we talking about?"
Mary Anne's smile had long since faded. "Nothing. I was just thanking you. I should go back to my car."
"Oh, okay." He looked disappointed, as if he'd just remembered what they'd been talking about. "Well, if you need to use the phone again, you know where to find me."
"Thank you, Sergeant Shelten." She forced a smile, unsure of why she wasn't feeling as happy as she was a moment ago, and turned to leave.
"You're welcome Mrs.-?"
"Bruno. Mary Anne Bruno."
"You're welcome, Mrs. Bruno. I hope you get your car fixed soon." He gestured toward it.
She frowned, walking away. "Yeah, me too."
With all the electricity out of the car, there was no air conditioning. Sighing heavily, Mary Anne sat down behind the wheel and kept the door open to get some cool(er) air circulating. Removing her cardigan, she pulled her students’ homework out of her messenger bag and started correcting.
Since Rita wasn’t coming home until late, dinner was up to Chad. He glared into the freezer, willing something edible to appear but the box of Salisbury steak continued to exist next to a sack of peas and a can of orange juice concentrate.
“Gross,” he muttered and shut the door. Takeout it was, then. He grabbed his keys out of the bowl on the counter and headed out the door. A few steps out and he saw Mary Anne Bruno out in her car.
His conscience gave him a swift kick in the ass when he saw she was all but dangling out of her overheated car, face flushed. She’d put some reading glasses on and strands of hair fell into her face as she ran a blue pencil over a stack of papers.
“Mrs. Bruno?” he called as he approached her.
She looked up, her adorable look of concentration fading. “Hmmm? Yes?”
When Chad got close, he patted the roof of her car. "No air conditioning, huh? Why don't you come inside until your friend comes? Better than roasting out here."
Her flush intensified. “Oh no, I couldn’t…”
"Nah, it's no trouble. I don't want you to get heatstroke."
A grateful smile crossed her face and he smiled back. “Thank you very much, Sergeant Shelten.” She stuffed the papers into her bag and stepped out of the car. Chad shut the door for her and led her back to the house.
Once inside, Mary Anne closed her eyes and let the cool air pass over her, shivering in delight. Chad smiled and didn’t comment, only showed her into the kitchen once she’d opened her eyes again.
"Thanks again. It seems like you're my hero today." She took a seat at the table and took out the stack of papers once more.
Chad chuckled, and went to the freezer to take out the Salisbury steak. He made an obligatory face at the alleged food item. "I guess I could be. I need a cape or something though."
"Not necessarily. I guess I have heroes on my mind because I assigned my kids a theme they were supposed to write about their own personal heroes. Most kids named their moms or dads. It's very sweet." Smiling, she grabbed some stickers out of her bag and peeled off one that said Great work! and carefully applied it to one of the papers.
“Mmm.” After quickly reading the instructions, Chad popped the meal in the microwave. "My wife and I don't have any kids. So I guess I'm just your hero." He threw her a teasing look over his shoulder.
Mary Anne laughed and blushed. "Do... do you want children?"
Chad shrugged as he got a Cherry Coke out of the fridge. "I did for a long time, but I'm getting kind of up there in years now, and Rita's more focused on her career right now, so I think that ship has sailed."
"Oh. I'm sorry." Biting her lip, she returned to correcting her papers.
Something about this felt familiar. Chad watched her work and tried to shake off his déjà vu. "Do you have kids?"
"Yes. I have a six year old girl named Alma. Here." Smiling proudly, she dug around in her bag for her wallet and opened it, showing him her photo collection of a little blonde girl with bright blue eyes. “She looks just like her daddy.”
He came over for a look. "Aww, she's cute. And Alma's a really unique name. Sorta classic."
"It was my mother's name,” Mary Anne said softly.
"I always wanted to name my daughter after my mother too. But Rita was always against it." His smile turned sad. "Guess it doesn't really matter much now anyway."
Mary Anne surprised him by taking his hand and squeezing comfortingly. He shared a soft smile with her that was unfortunately interrupted by the microwave beeping. She snatched her hand away quickly and he went to get his dinner.
"So Callis is getting hitched, huh?" Chad peeled off the plastic cover and stirred his potatoes.
"Yes, next month.” She looked flustered as she put her Alma pictures away. “I think he said something about inviting everyone from the office. They haven't sent out the invitations yet, so don't think you’ve been slighted or anything."
"Well, it wouldn't surprise me if I was." Not looking at her, he popped the food back in the microwave to finish cooking.
Mary Anne gave him a surprised look. “Why?”
Chad turned and leaned against the counter. "I'm not one to make friends where I work. In fact, I've probably made a few enemies." He shrugged and picked up his Cherry Coke. "They wouldn't want me there."
"But you're so sweet. I can't picture anyone not liking you."
Another strange feeling of familiarity washed over him. "I know. I'm the picture of perfection." He chuckled at his joke even though she didn’t even smile. "Hey, this is gonna sound like it's coming out of nowhere, but have you ever been to visit Callis up in Internal Affairs before?"
"Yeah, once or twice. Usually to get him something he left at home when Dawn couldn't. I mostly go to narcotics to visit Kristy and Brett."
"Ah, that must be why you seem so familiar. I kept getting this vibe that I knew you somehow." The microwave beeped and he turned away.
"I've been getting the same feeling. But I'd remember seeing you, I'm sure of it."
He didn’t turn to look at her as he got a fork out of the drawer. “Yeah, yeah, I know. Everyone calls me Paul Bunyan or Gigantor or some weird thing behind my back. At least, they think it's behind my back." Sitting down across from her with his meal, he still managed to continue not looking at her.
"Oh, I didn't mean it like that!” she exclaimed in alarm. “I just meant that you're attractive, that's all!" Having blurted that out, she slapped her forehead.
Chad looked up at her in surprise and then grinned at her embarrassed face. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She continued her corrections, blushing painfully.
Eating slowly, Chad watched her and tried to subtly spit out the pieces of gristle he found in his meat. Unfortunately, he made more sound than he realized and Mary Anne looked up at him sympathetically.
“That looks disgusting,” she said.
Chad turned the fork upside down and the potatoes clung to the tines though something suspiciously nasty slid right off it. "Well it tastes how it looks."
"Wait just a minute!" She hopped up and ran from the room.
“Uh, okay?”
Moments later, she returned with a cooler in her arms. "My kids and I had a picnic today to celebrate everyone passing their last math exam. There's some leftovers in here if you'd like them."
“Oh, yes I would.” Chad dropped his fork into the cardboard container.
Mary Anne opened the cooler, smiling brightly. "There's some sandwiches... and potato salad... some deviled eggs..."
"I love deviled eggs." He took one and bit into it, spilling some on his shirt.
"Oh! Here..." She grabbed a napkin from the cooler and started wiping at the mess he’d made.
Chad looked down at himself and smirked but seeing Mary Anne taking care of him made his expression gentle as his feelings from before intensified. "Thanks. I'm not usually a slob, I swear..."
"It's okay, we all make mistakes sometimes. I think I got it all." She dabbed a bit more and then took a step back.
"Ok... um, so the sandwiches..." He quickly looked away from her. I’m a married man. “What kind are they?”
"Ham and cheese... turkey.... Uh, I forget what the others are." She swallowed with difficulty. “There’s also fried chicken.”
“Nice!” Chad eagerly rooted around for the chicken. “Thanks for this, Mary Anne.” He realized a second later that this was the first time he used her name out loud.
“You’re welcome, Chad,” she said softly.
He looked pointedly from her to the cooler. "Don't let nothing but fear hold you back."
An impatient honk from outside made her jump. "Oh! That's... that's Kristy. I have to go."
“Oh,” he said, trying to hide his disappointment. “I guess so.”
She started gathering her things together and pulled out a blank sheet of paper that she scribbled on. "Here's my address so you can return the cooler. Or, um, I can come back for it since I know where you live."
"You don't want to just take it now? I mean, you don't have to, but I wasn't going to eat everything if that's what you're thinking."
It was her turn to hide her disappointment. Wilting, she lowered the hand holding her address. “Oh. Okay…”
She was bad at acting so he reached out and took the paper from her. "You know what, I'll bring it to you. You're in a hurry. What day is good for you?"
"Any day, really. Maybe call ahead first? I... put my number down, too." She blushed a little.
Looking down at the paper, Chad grinned. "Ok, I'll be sure to. Let me walk you out."
At the door, they stood there uncertainly like two kids on their first date. After hesitating a moment, Mary Anne stood up on her tiptoes and brushed a soft kiss over Chad’s cheek.
"Thank you for being my hero today,” she said.
"Thanks for being mine. If it weren't for you I'd be eating potato-like paste right now." He smiled softly at her, finding himself swaying just a little closer.
She stared at his lips and nodded stupidly before shaking herself out of her daze. “No problem. Goodbye.” She groped blindly behind her for the doorknob and found it, giving it a sharp turn.
“Goodbye. For now.” He grinned at her, unconsciously giving her his sexy grin.
Mary Anne trotted down the steps and down the drive to the waiting black SUV identical to his. She climbed inside and watched him back as the car drove away.
After searching desperately for his son for hours, The Doctor didn’t get the idea to go to the police station until a patrol car cruised by him. Of course! He managed to scrape together some bus fare and got to the station, which ate up more time in which Frey could’ve been abducted or killed or exposed to processed sugar.
“Please, you have to help me,” The Doctor told the desk sergeant without preamble. “My son is missing he’s… he’s…. he’s this tall!” He indicated the height in relation to himself, holding his hand out. “And he’s got this hair that’s my color but longer and I keep telling him that he should cut it only he- And he’s got brown eyes! Last time I saw him he was wearing… what was it? Jeans, he likes jeans!”
“His name Frey?” the desk sergeant asked mildly.
“Yes, it’s short for-“ The Doctor jolted. “Is he here?!”
“Yeah, he came in here hours ago with Detective Thomas. Narcotics. Go on up.”
Detective Thomas? No. No, it couldn’t be…
After consulting the directory, The Doctor knew which floor to go to and got into the elevator, cursing the damn thing for not moving fast enough. Stumbling out on the narcotics floor, he grabbed the first officer he saw and demanded to know where Detective Thomas was. Shaken, the man pointed to an office and The Doctor hurried towards it, stopping dead in his tracks in the doorway.
It was Kristy. Her hair was shorter than when he’d last seen her, she certainly wore more makeup, and her clothing was much more… daring. Her tiny black tank top exposed not only part of her tummy, which he was used to, but her bra straps as well. Also black. With metal rods wedged into the straps.
Frey sat on top of the desk, a sketchpad in his lap. He looked happy and safe. Some of the tension The Doctor had been carrying in his shoulders all day faded away.
"And he had a scar on his left cheek that ran down to his chin..." Kristy said, running a finger down her face, tracing the imaginary scar.
“Uh huh,” Frey muttered, scribbling away. Other sketches littered the ground around him, showing that they’d been at this game for awhile.
He and Kristy had always enjoyed playing games together. They’d been so close. The Doctor had tried to fill that gap for his son but clearly he’d been failing miserably all this time, otherwise Frey would never have pulled a stunt like this. Seeing his love and their child together once more, tears started to well up in his eyes.
Pulling himself together, The Doctor cleared his throat. “Excuse me?”
Kristy and Frey looked at him. “Can I help you?” Kristy asked as Frey wilted at the sight of him.
"Yes, I was looking for my little runaway. And here he is, quite content where he is too, I might add." The Doctor nodded at Frey, who was starting to look miserable.
"Oh! You're Gallifrey's dad, then." She stood up and stretched, smiling. "And here I was worried this story wouldn't have a happy ending. Cute kid, by the way.”
"Thank you; he takes after his mother." The Doctor crossed to Frey and knelt before him. Frey looked away and The Doctor leaned close to whisper to him. "I know this is making you happy, but it's not her. She just looks like her, alright?"
"It's her. She calls me jellybean,” Frey said stubbornly.
“Gallifrey? Is everything okay?” Kristy asked, starting to look concerned.
"Son, it's the parallel her, not the one who gave birth to you,” The Doctor said, squeezing Frey’s shoulder. “Please understand; I would love for this one to be her, but she's not."
When Frey started to tear up and sob, Kristy hurried to him and knelt down beside The Doctor to pull Frey into her arms. “Ohhh, jellybean, don’t cry.”
"He-- We lost his mother and, it's been difficult... and you look a great deal like her... I'm sorry." The Doctor kept his attention focused on Frey, trying not to let his tears fall.
Kristy’s jaw dropped. "Oh, I'm so sorry. This must be hard for both of you." She gently stroked Frey’s cheek. "You should go with your Dad now. Once you two are back at your hotel and... have a talk or something, you'll feel better."
Frey was quick to jump on that. "But- but we haven't a place to stay! Could we stay with you? Please?"
The Doctor sighed, having had a long day and wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep his patience. “Frey… that’s impossible.”
"Please, just for a few days. Please let us stay." Fully crying now, Frey burrowed into Kristy’s arms. Over the boy’s shoulder, Kristy gave The Doctor a look that said I don’t know what to do here!
"We're not meant to be here, Frey. We have to go... and close the door behind us,” he slyly hinted, meaning that they had to fix the hole they’d made in time to get here.
“Then you go. Let me stay.” Frey sniffled as Kristy rubbed circles into his back, shushing him.
“I can’t do that. I made a promise.” He could picture Kristy insisting he get Frey to safety, her lips blue and teeth chattering, looking so tired. If he had to leave her behind, there was no way he was going to do the same with their child.
“Don’t you-” Frey started to argue back when another police officer popped into the room.
"Hey, have you seen the news?" He saw the little moment they were having and looked awkward. “Uh…”
“What news?” Kristy asked, still rubbing Frey’s back.
"Just... this spaceship thing heading our way." The cop backed out and left.
Eyes widening, The Doctor shared a look with Frey.
“C-can we turn on the telly and see?” Frey asked.
“Sure.” Letting Frey go, Kristy went to the small tv on the filing cabinet and turned it on. The screen automatically showed a satellite photo of a ship or something headed for the earth, as the news anchor narrated events nervously. "Ugh. It's like something out of science fiction..."
“We have to stay and help now,” Frey said, sniffling.
The Doctor held his hand out to him. “Will you help me?”
Instead of going to his father, Frey went to Kristy and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Can we stay with you, Kristy?”
"I'd be happy to have you but it's up to you dad, jellybean,” she said absently, watching the news with morbid fascination.
The Doctor pondered that for a moment. "We can stay for a little while, just until this is all cleared up." Frey beamed and ran over to give him a big hug.
“Creepy.” Kristy shivered and turned the tv off then looked at the boys. "Well! I'm ready to go home now. So you guys can just... you don't have any luggage?"
“Um, not at the moment,” The Doctor said.
“Was it stolen?” Kristy asked, going into cop mode.
“Nooo… just misplaced.”
"Okay. Maybe we can do something about that tomorrow." She led the way out of the office and called over her shoulder, “I’m starving; who wants burgers?”
It was late when they finished their meal at the In ‘n Out burger and all three of them were ready to bed once they made it to Kristy’s tiny apartment. The Doctor helped Kristy take the cushions off the couch and pull out the folding bed.
“Hope you two don’t mind sharing a bed,” Kristy said as she and Frey put sheets on the mattress. Some blankets were stacked nearby along with some pillows which The Doctor threw on once the sheets were smoothed out.
“Not at all,” The Doctor said and looked at Frey, who was frowning but didn’t say anything.
"Okay. I'm exhausted. You guys can watch a little tv or help yourself to anything in the fridge but try to keep it down, okay? I have to be up early tomorrow." Giving them a smile, Kristy started to head off to her room.
“Wait!” Frey called, making her stop.
“What’s up?” she asked.
“Can I have a kiss goodnight?”
Kristy’s eyes went wide and she looked at The Doctor. “Oh…”
The Doctor gave a fake laugh and wrapped his arm around Frey’s chest to keep him in place. "Son, let's not scare the nice lady who took us in, alright?"
"It... it's okay. He just took me by surprise. Come here, jelly bean." The Doctor had no choice but to let Frey go. The boy ran over to Kristy and she bent down, smiling sadly, to gently kiss his forehead. “Goodnight, Gallifrey.”
“Goodnight Mu- Kristy.”
After touching his hair softly, she went off to bed. Frey watched her go with a happy smile on his face then went back to the bed, burrowing under the covers. After a moment of thought, he grabbed the television remote control.
"You know, she'll be harder to let go if you keep behaving this way." The Doctor sighed, kicking off his shoes and taking off his jacket.
Frey ignored him and continued watching cartoons.
"You have any idea how badly I want to take her in my arms and kiss her?" The Doctor crawled under the covers next to Frey, smiling sadly. "But she'd beat me to a pulp because she's not mine and I'm not hers." Staring off into the distance, he pictured his Kristy grinning at him. “Not mine.”
"She can become yours. And mine." Frey spared his father a quick glance and then went back to the cartoons.
"Maybe she could, but she has her own life here, and... she isn't my Kristy. I'll never love anyone but my darling dearheart, and no matter how much they're alike, right down to the blood in their veins, she isn't the woman I gave my heart to."
"But she's the closest thing we have to her." Frey started to tear up again.
The Doctor wrapped his arm around him, starting to get a little misty himself. "I know. But close isn't enough."
"It is for me. I've missed her so much." Frey pressed his face into The Doctor’s chest.
Hugging his son, The Doctor said, "So have I. But I don't want to replace her. Please, don't ask me to."
Both of them sat there in silence for several minutes. Then Frey pulled away to turn the tv off and got settled under the covers. In moments, Frey was asleep.
The Doctor wasn’t as lucky as that and stayed awake for many hours, staring up at the ceiling.
Eventually, The Doctor must have fallen asleep because in the wee hours of the morning he jerked awake to find Frey was gone.
“Frey?” He sat up and looked around the tiny living room, not seeing his son anywhere. Sighing, he threw back the covers. “That boy gets in more trouble…” He got up and checked in the hall closet and the bathroom. There was only one other place to check and The Doctor rolled his eyes. “Let me guess…”
When he quietly opened Kristy’s bedroom door, Frey was curled up next to her in bed. Awake, Kristy held him close and stroked his hair comfortingly and her gaze lifted from the child to The Doctor, smiling at him.
"Morning,” she said quietly. “Somebody was sleep wandering."
"I'm quite sure he wasn't asleep." He paused a moment before saying, "He thinks you could be his mother."
Her eyes widened at that but she continued to stroke the boy’s hair. "Wow. I'd be a terrible mother, though. He deserves much better."
"He had the best mother a child could ask for."
“When did she die?”
“It was three years ago,” he said, starting to get choked up. He never had to talk about Kristy’s death and it was a difficult thing to have to remind himself every moment that she was gone.
“Hey,” Kristy said softly. She sat up and patted the edge of the bed and he went and sat down. She reached out and touched his wrist. “I’m sorry.”
The Doctor looked down at their hands and nodded.
"I'm sure the two of you made her a very happy woman." She gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "I don't think she'd like seeing the two of you so miserable."
“No, she wouldn’t,” he agreed with a tiny smile. “She'd say, 'Stop throwing yourself a pity party and move on!'"
Surprised, Kristy giggled but quickly caught the sound in her hand so she wouldn’t wake Frey up. The Doctor smiled at her. "I have a feeling you'd say something similar?"
"Well, I don't know. It sounds like something blunt and to the point I'd say." She reached over and tapped his chin. "Hey, what do you know, your mouth *does* go the other way."
At this familiar bit of gentle teasing, The Doctor brightened. "It's been known to do that from time to time."
“Looks good on you.”
It felt good, too. He couldn’t even remember the last time he’d really smiled. Looking at his sleeping child, he amended that thought. Yeah, he could. "He's dead set on staying here with you."
“I…” She looked down at Frey as well. "A part of me is terrified of the idea but... this other part just..." Her gaze returned to The Doctor, confusion spreading across her features. "I think I'm falling in love with your little boy. I don't know why but it's just this... feeling. This connection. It's so weird."
He swallowed hard. “Do you want to know why that is?”
Kristy snorted. "I think it's my biological clock ticking. At least that's what my mother would say."
"That's not the reason. The real reason might seem a bit unbelievable, but I know you'll eventually believe me."
"What are you talking about?" she asked, looking at him strangely.
"What if I told you that this isn't the only Earth? That there are several parallel Earths, and each one has a Kristy Thomas on it, that is exactly like you."
"I'd think you were smoking the special crack." She started to draw away from him.
"Yes, well... sometimes I think life would be simpler if I was. The point is, on one of these parallel Earths, I met Kristy Thomas, about to graduate from the University of Connecticut." He watched her eyes go wide. "She left her family, mother, stepfather, sisters, brothers, all of them, to travel around with me. We fell in love, and Gallifrey is our son. He's the son of the parallel you."
For a moment she didn’t respond. Finally, she snapped, “Who the hell are you?”
He winced at her tone. “I’m The Doctor.”
“Doctor Who?” she demanded, wrapping a protective arm around Frey.
“Just The Doctor.” He shrugged.
"Uh huh. And on an Alternate Earth we met and..." She trailed off, looking at him disbelievingly.
"Not you, per se. My Kristy. She said she didn't like me much at first, but she liked my freckles." The Doctor gazed sadly off into space.
Though she wasn’t quite sure she bought all this crap about alternate universes, he was doing a good job of pulling off a convincing act. "Your freckles are kind of cute,” she begrudgingly admitted.
“Oh… thank you.”
"You're welcome. I guess." Kristy stroked Frey’s back. “You realize you sound batshit insane, right?”
"Naturally. I always do. But it's undeniable that you feel a connection to my son." To illustrate his point, he nodded at her hand on the child’s back.
He had her there. "I do. He's so..."
"Yeah,” The Doctor agreed. “He's everything..."
"Everything you have left of her."
The Doctor nodded silently.
Kristy finally looked back at him again and considered him carefully a moment. "It's still early. Do you want to lay down with us?"
They used to spend some mornings like that, when Frey had been smaller. In the wee hours, he’d sneak into Mummy and Daddy’s room and slip under the covers with them. Usually, he’d wedge himself right between them. On one memorable occasion, he not only squeezed himself right in the middle but fell asleep again only to shift horizontally, with his head resting on Kristy’s stomach and his feet gouging into the small of The Doctor’s back. He’d been annoyed but he’d rolled over to face Kristy to find her smiling at him. Out of nowhere, she started to giggle. He only had to raise his eyebrows expressively for her to express her thought.
“He’s turned us into an ‘H’.”
They both had had to bury their faces in the pillows to muffle their laughter.
Now, The Doctor swallowed with difficulty and backed away from this Kristy-yet-not-Kristy. "Nah, I think I'd better turn on the telly. See what's happening out there."
“All right.” She pulled Frey closer and closed her eyes, ready to fall back to sleep as The Doctor high-tailed it out of the room.
This looked like the kind of place she’d live. Chad stared at the sunshine-yellow house and checked the house numbers with the address Mary Anne had written out neatly for him. This was the place. Taking a deep breath, he lugged the cooler full of empty Tupperware containers with him across the freshly cut lawn.
Just get this over with, Shelten. Don’t spend a lot of time here. She’s cute but she’s married and so are you. You don’t need to be looking around at other…
He rang the doorbell and heavy footsteps ran pell mell for the door. “I’ll get it!!!” The door was thrown wide by a little blonde girl in a pink t-shirt and overalls. She stared solemnly up at Chad. Alma was her name, he remembered.
“Hi,” he said cheerfully. “Is your mommy home?”
“Who may I ask is calling, please?” she asked properly.
Chad grinned. “Sergeant Shelten. I’ve come to return the cooler your mommy was nice enough to lend to me.”
Just then, Mary Anne appeared just behind Alma, face flushed. “Alma, what have I told you about answering the door to strangers? Did you even look through the window first like we tell you?”
“No.” The girl blinked her big forget-me-not eyes up at her mother and Mary Anne sighed, giving in and gently squeezing her daughter’s shoulder.
“Well, do that, next time. For now, why don’t you go play out in the backyard, okay?” Alma dashed off and Mary Anne let out a breath, smiling up at Chad. “Hi.”
“Hi,” he said back, staring at her. She looked adorable in a white peasant top and jean skirt, hair spilling over her shoulders. She stared right back at him before shaking herself.
“Oh! God, I’m so rude. Come in, please, Chad.” She took a step back, allowing him to enter her home.
The place was neat and decorated nicely; Mary Anne had good taste. Pictures of family and friends were scattered here and there on the walls and on the table next to the door as well as a piano in the corner of the living room. He wondered if Alma was taking lessons.
“I’ll just take this into the kitchen.” Mary Anne took the cooler from him and led the way into the next room, presumably the kitchen. “Did you like everything?” she called over her shoulder.
“Yeah, it was delicious,” he said.
Mary Anne laughed. “It should be; I didn’t cook any of it. I just picked it up at the grocery store.”
He chuckled. “Cheater.”
Laughing along with him, Mary Anne set the cooler on the counter and started taking Tupperware containers out. “Oh, you already cleaned these? You’re a prince!”
“I don’t think princes clean their own dishes,” Chad pointed out, standing in the middle of the sunny yellow kitchen that matched the house’s exterior. The soft smile she gave him made him feel warm all over. Get a grip, Shelten.
She set about putting everything away. “Thanks so much for bringing this back. A lesser man would’ve kept all of these fancy shmancy Tupperware containers.”
“We have enough of those at home. But I have to admit, I was a little tempted.”
Mary Anne looked at him, face flushing. “Were you?” she asked breathlessly.
Chad swallowed, not sure how to respond. “I, uh…” He was cut off short by a blood-curdling shriek from outside. Alma. He jerked and was shocked when Mary Anne’s response was annoyance.
“Oh god damn it!” She grabbed a broom from between the refrigerator and the wall and ran out through the connecting dining room and the sliding glass door leading out to the yard. Chad followed.
Alma clung to the top of her swingset, screaming shrilly as a large black dog barked up at her. He didn’t look particularly dangerous, but the dog was quite big and it didn’t surprise Chad that it scared the little girl. Apparently this was a regular thing.
Mary Anne ran at the dog with the broom and bopped it a good one on its snout. The dog whined and backed away. “Get out of here you nasty thing!” Mary Anne shook the cleaning implement at the dog. “Go on! What’d I tell you last time?!”
Wisely, the dog turned tail and ran to the gate, Mary Anne following it. She closed the gate and slid the latch shut, muttering to herself. “I keep telling him to fix this damn latch.” Turning, she came back out into the yard, dropping the broom and opening her arms at the bottom of the swingset. “Okay, sweetpea, he’s gone. Come on down.”
Alma slid down the pole into her mother’s arms and turned big eyes on Chad. “Angus is a mean doggie!”
“It sure looked that way,” Chad agreed.
They went back into the house and Mary Anne poured some chocolate milk into a Strawberry Shortcake cup to help Alma recover from her ordeal. Mary Anne offered Chad some lemonade, which he politely accepted.
“You know what Angus did once?” Alma put her cup down, unaware of the chocolate milk mustache on her face. “He ran off with one of my Barbies once. Mommy ran after him with Daddy's baseball bat and got it back for me. One of her legs was kind of chewy, though."
"Ah, well those are battle scars,” Chad said, nodding knowingly.
Alma beamed. "Barbie has babble scars, Mommy!"
"Battle scars, honey. And yes she does."
The little girl took a big gulp of her chocolate milk and it spilled down her chin. Mary Anne laughed at the mess instead of getting annoyed like Chad’s mother would have. "Sweetpea, lady-like sips, please." She got up to get some napkins to clean up the mess.
"Are you a p'leece officer, Sergeant Shelten? Or are you a army man?"
“I’m a police officer.”
"Do you pull people over and eat donuts and stuff?"
Chad laughed. "Not anymore. I have a desk job now."
Alma’s eyes widened. "I'm not allowed to eat at my desk, either. Heidi Flowers brought candy to school once and we all got in trouble."
"Ah, well I wouldn't get in trouble. I just don't happen to eat donuts anymore."
Not liking treats anymore? This concept went above Alma’s head and she frowned, having to think the matter over.
The front door opened and a voice with a thick southern accent called, “Ahm hoooome!”
“Daddy!” Alma squealed and hopped off her chair, running excitedly out of the room.
Just like that, the little domestic scene he’d been weaving himself into was shattered. Chad quickly stood up, looking at his watch. "Wow, I didn't realize it was so late. I should be getting home."
"Oh. Yes, I- I suppose that-" Mary Anne started to say, looking stricken.
A handsome blonde man younger than Chad came in with Alma on his hip, grinning widely. "Alma wants me ta meet her new best friend. You must be the one who helped mah wife yesterday when the car gave her trouble."
"Yeah, Chad Shelten." Chad shook the man’s – Logan’s – hand. "I was returning the cooler Mary Anne left."
Logan nodded, seeing the cooler on the counter. "Right. So you're the reason I won’t be eatin' leftovers this weekend." He winked. "Thanks for takin' care o' her for me, Shelten."
"Wasn't a problem." Chad stuffed his hands into his pockets, feeling like an interloper. "Well, I should be going. The wife'll be home soon."
“Better get to her, then,” Logan agreed then turned his grin to Mary Anne. "Miss me, baby girl?"
Looking uncomfortable but smiling anyway, Mary Anne went to her husband and gave him a kiss.
"Right, well thanks again for the food,” Chad said quickly, needing to be out of there. “Nice meeting you two,” he told Logan and Alma.
"Will you come visit again, some time?" Alma asked hopefully.
"Oh I dunno, I might."
Alma’s face lit up and the adults all laughed. The Brunos walked Chad out and stood on the porch as Chad walked to his car. Logan set Alma down and she bounced up and down, waving goodbye to him exuberantly.
“By-ay-ay-ay-ay!” she called as she bounced.
Chad chuckled as he drove away and he’d barely turned out of the neighborhood before his need to see Mary Anne again came back.
Kristy had picked up some pasta and made tortellini for dinner. The three of them sat around the table and joked together, talking about their respective days. The atmosphere was comfortable and relaxed.
"Kristy, look! Look!" Frey opened his mouth to proudly display his chewed food.
"Ewwwwww!" Kristy laughed.
"I guess you like 'seafood,” The Doctor quipped, making the other two groan at his lame joke, but they all kept smiling.
“You guys are nuts,” Kristy said affectionately.
Frey started giggling and dropped his head to Kristy’s shoulder. Unthinkingly, she gently rubbed her cheek against the top of his head and The Doctor had to look down at his plate.
It’d been Kristy’s idea to put the radio on while they ate. Right in the middle of “Good Day Sunshine” a news bulletin cut in. “The ships have now entered Earth’s atmosphere,” the news correspondent reported nervously. “A message of forewarning has been issued but officials have yet to share what the beings have said. Speculation is that the group is hostile. Authorities ask you to stay in your homes and keep all doors and windows closed and locked and turn off all electronics.”
Kristy stood up and switched off the radio. "Come on. I'm taking you two to the station."
“Why the station?” Frey asked, taking her hand.
"Because it's safer. I don't want anything happening to either of you." With that, they abandoned their meal and were out the door.
Continued in Part II
