The Littlest Timelord: Blast from the Past

Chapter 12 (Gridlock)

A/N - Welcome back everyone! I took a break this week from posting, but I'm here with an extra long chapter! I wanted to split this up into two, but I didn't want to delay a certain reveal any longer.

"We've got to go to the fast lane. Take us down," the Doctor said. 

"Not in a million years," Brannigan told him. 

"You've got four passengers." 

"I'm still not going." 

"She's alone and she's lost. She doesn't belong on this planet, and it's all my fault. I'm asking you, Brannigan, take me down." 

"That's a no. And that's final. I'm not risking the children down there," Valerie said. 

"Why not? What's the risk? What happens down there?" 

"We're not discussing it. The conversation is closed." 

"So we keep on driving." 

"Yes, we do," Brannigan said. 

"For how long?" 

"Till the journey's end." 

The Doctor grabbed the radio. "Mrs. Cassini, this is the Doctor. Tell me, how long have you been driving on the motorway?" 

"Oh, we were amongst the first. It's been twenty-three years now," one of them said. 

"And in all that time, have you ever seen a police car?" 

"I'm not sure," the other said said. 

"Look at your notes. Any police?" 

"Not as such." 

"Or an ambulance? Rescue service? Anything official. Ever." 

"I can't keep a note of everything."

"What if there's no one out there?" 

Brannigan grabbed the radio back. "Stop it. The Cassini's were doing you a favor." 

"Someone's got to ask, because you might not talk about it, but it's there in your eyes. What if the traffic jam never stops?" 

"There's a whole city above us. The mighty city state of New New York. They wouldn't just leave us." 

"In that case, where are they, hmm? What if there's no help coming, not ever? What if there's nothing? Just the motorway, with the cars going round and round and round and round, never stopping. Forever." 

"Shut up! Just shut up!" Valerie yelled. 

A video of the woman from earlier popped up on the screen. "This is Sally Calypso, and it's that time again. The sun is blazing high in the sky over the New Atlantic, the perfect setting for the daily contemplation," she said. 

"You think you know us so well, Doctor. But we're not abandoned. Not while we have each other," Brannigan said. 

"This is for all of you out there on the roads. We're so sorry. Drive safe." 

A song started to play over the radio. "On a hill, far away, stood an old, rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame. And I love that old cross, where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain. So I'll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down. I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown." 

Brannigan and Valerie joined in on the song, while the Doctor and Elise just watched. 

The song ended and the Doctor reached for the trap door in the bottom of the car. "If you won't take us, we'll go down on our own," the Doctor said.