Fourth Doctor One-Shots

Sarah Jane~That Of A Child

"Sarah?"

Silence.

He cupped his hands around his mouth, "Oh Sarah!" the Doctor bellowed out, "Sarah Jane?"

Again, silence and the wind.

The Doctor lowered his hands still looking out at the endless field of sunflowers that swayed before him.

"It's no use, Doctor."

The Doctor turned his head to see Harry standing beside him, "And why is that?"

"She's quite upset with you, Doctor. Don't poke the bear." Harry eyes remained locked on the horizon.

The Doctor's voice morphed into one of honest confusion as he threw his hands in the air, "I don't even understand what I did wrong!" he slumped to the ground with a thud.

"You spoke of her as if she were a child, Doctor."

The Doctor's legs layed flat against the soil, "I didn't mean it that way," he mumbled, "I only meant that she was much less knowledgeable of the universe in comparison to me. Just like you are!"

Harry looked down at the Doctor, "You don't find that the slightest bit degrading?"

The Doctor stared into the dirt as a newfound guilt filled his head with worrisome thoughts, "I suppose..." he trailed off, "I shouldn't have spoke of it so openly?"

"She looks at you in a way like no other Doctor," Harry started, "when you said those words in jest and with such ease..." he paused a moment to think, "it struck a nerve...hit close to home...to put it simply, Sarah is hurting because she believes you think less of her."

The Doctor's head snapped up in defense, "But I don't!"

"Well she doesn't know that now does she, Doctor?"

The Doctor's mouth hung open, Harry had made a good point. "You know," He stood slowly. "No one likes a know-it-all, Harry."

Harry shook his head with a smile as he pivoted on his heal and made way for the Tardis.

The Doctor marched through the tall army of flowers. "Sarah?"

In response, he heard the subtle sound of sobbing among the flowers.

The Doctor's expression turned hopeful, he followed the weeping until, finally, he found its source. "Oh-"

"Go away!" Sarah barked sourily.

"Sarah, I didn't mean what I said-"

"If you didn't mean what you said, then you wouldn't have said it. Now, go away. I don't want to talk to you-"

"Then just listen," the Doctor knelt before Sarah, "Please, allow me to explain myself."

Sarah's face was tear-stained, her eyes riddled with redness and doubt. She could barely bring herself to stare into the Doctor's sparkly blue jewels. "Why did you say that about me, Doctor?"

"I meant only that though you knew less than I of the universe..."

Sarah drew her eyelids closed, in preparation for the blows to her pride, carried by the words to come next.

"I couldn't ask for anyone better to share my knowledge with or show the universe to through adventure." A shy smile tugged at the corners of the Doctor's mouth.

Sarah's eyes flickered open again, "You mean, you don't look down on me?"

The Doctor's tone began to fill with its usual playfulness once more. "Of course not, I think the world of you, Sarah."

Sarah's quivering lips melted into her signature smirk of relief. "You're one of the most difficult people I've ever met."

"Good! So we're both on the same page!" He grinned widely, making Sarah giggle.

The Doctor leaned into Sarah and squeezed her tightly, the two sat there for a few minutes just hugging. Holding one and other close. For what they weren't aware of was, their wonderful adventures would soon be over.

They left the field of flowers without so much as a whisper, that is, with exception of the Doctor's mere utterance,
"My Sarah Jane..."