The Girl of Colours (Book TWO)

Meet the Family

Callie:

"Sky!" Luke called, coming into the house to see Sarah Jane and her sat at the table, doing both homework and journalism stuff. "Hey, mum, thanks for watching her."

She smiled, standing up to hug us both. "It's fine. She's been giving me a hand, I'm doing a story on how Park Vale has had a lot of luck with the Smith family, what with first Luke, the genius in all subjects, then their newly signed singer and energy specialist who is marrying him on the 23rd of November up in the Isle of Skye, and now their adopted daughter Sky, who is just a fast learner and is a jack of all trades. How was your dad?"

"Fine." I smiled, placing down a few things from the TARDIS in the kitchen. "He was fine. Um, I need to make a call, I'll be right back." 

"No worries. I need to head back soon, there's a meteorite storm Mr Smith is monitoring and with Clyde at this apprenticeship and Rani at Uni, well, I'm back to being a solo artist. You need me to watch her again, just let me know."

Nodding, I headed upstairs into my soundproof recording studio, before dialing a number that I had taken from when I was at Stormcage. "Stormcage Security post Alpha, Prison Guard Stevens."

"My name's Calliope, I am fully aware that Doctor River Song is allowed to take calls, for as long as she wants." I told him, taking out a change of clothes, a short pink dress that previously I hadn't liked all that much. Regeneration. "So, pass me over, Stevens."

There was a pause, before I heard a familiar voice. "Hello? Doctor?"

"No. Who Watches the Watchmen?"

"Quis custodies ipsos custodes? Sam Vimes." River answered on instinct, and I felt so much better hearing her say that, to know I hadn't just dreamt the whole thing up. "Callie?"

Sighing, I knew that I needed to let Luke know. "Hey, mom. I've just done Hitler, who is probably still in the cupboard, to be fair."

She laughed a little, and I laughed too, at how stupid that probably sounded. "Yes, well, he does deserve it. So, you know that Luke heard you refer me mother in french, and you want me to come for a visit? You want to know if it's alright to let him know who I am?"

Damn, my mother was good. She was so much better at guessing how I felt than dad. "How did you guess?"

"You're so like me in so many way, my Callie. I've always wanted to meet Sky, too, so that's good. I've not long gotten back from dropping you all off after Demon's Run to be fair. When do you want me to come down?"

That was easy. Sky was free every weekend, I was free all the time, and Luke worked from home in his little office that was so high tech and linked to Mr Smith. Also, K9 was programmed to do everything from his special dog kennel next to the laundry room. He was our oldest family friend, now that Sir Alistair passed away a few months previous. "Saturday, this Saturday. I can email you exact details, the where and the when. Need any help getting out, mom?"

River made a noise of annoyance, like she was upset that I would even doubt her ability on breaking out of prison. "Nah, they're starting to give up on keeping me here and I've only been incarcerated for about 2 years. I'll see you on Saturday, meet you in the park around the corner? The one by that row of houses that look like the sea front houses in the middle of London?" I'd always though that area was so dangerous. There were no decent crossings coming out of the park, what if someone was on the phone and got hit?

"Yeah, I'll see you then, mom. Love you." Then I hung up and sat down heavily in my recording chair, picking up my favourite guitar, the one from the TARDIS. Damn, I left the other one there, I didn't mean to do that, it meant that Dad would have it when he went to the beach.