Touch The Sky: Doctor Who/Studio C [Book 3]

The Sontaran Stratagem (Part 1)

The Sontaran Stratagem

(Originally: 04x04, 'The Sontaran Stratagem'; aired April 26, 2008)

"I can't believe I'm doing this!"

"No, neither can I," the Doctor said dryly, standing to the side and watching Donna stand at the controls of the TARDIS. "Oh, oh, careful," he said, darting in and smacking the console with a mallet, flipping a lever she'd missed. "Left hand down, left hand down!" She did as he asked and the TARDIS lurched. He glanced toward the hallway, wondering with amusement when Matt was going to show his face and complain about the bumpy ride. "Getting a bit too close to the 1980s," he said.

"What am I gonna do, put a dent in 'em?" Donna asked.

"Well, someone did." Before she could retort, the distinct ringing of a phone distracted them both.

"Hold on, that's a phone," she said as he moved to retrieve it. "You've got a mobile! Since when? Is that Matt's?"

"No," the Doctor said, before amending, "Well, used to be." He picked it up, eyeing it for a moment before pressing it to his ear. "Hello."

"Doctor?" He knew the voice even before she identified herself. "It's Mallory." He had a feeling she wasn't calling to resume her spot on the TARDIS again, and knew things were about to get interesting. Despite that, she had a hard, determined edge to her tone. "I'm bringing you back to Earth."

~~~

She hadn't wanted to call in the Doctor. But UNIT was stumped, Mark was halfway across the world, and she hadn't been able to think of anything else.

Fifty-two people dead in the same instant, all around the world. Something was definitely up.

Mallory stood in a street a few blocks away from their current mission, and she'd hardly dropped her phone from her ear when the familiar, haunting sound of the TARDIS reached her ears. She sucked in a breath and felt a kick from the baby, as if in response, and she was glad for the reminder of why she couldn't jump back in that ship.

The street fell silent and a moment later the Doctor poked his head out, hair sticking up as always and long coat over the less-typical blue suit. "Mallory."

"Doctor," she responded, the smallest of smiles coming to her face as she stepped toward him. A moment later, she wrapped her arms around his neck and he all but lifted her off the ground, both of them laughing. She'd hardly dared admit it to herself, but she'd missed the daft old alien.

"You haven't changed a bit!"

"Aside from the obvious," she responded dryly, stepping back. In the abrupt heat, she wore only a thin black shirt and it did little to hide anything.

"Weeeeeell, wasn't gonna mention..."

"Mm, now he's gained some tact," she teased, trailing off as a redheaded woman poked her head out of the TARDIS. The light mood faded. "Right. Didn't take you long to replace us, then."

"Now, don't start fighting," the Doctor said, stepping to the side so Donna could approach. "Mallory, Donna, Donna, Mallory. Please don't fight, I can't bear fighting."

"You wish," Donna said with a scoff. She reached forward, clasping Mallory's hand. "I've heard all about you. They talk about you all the time."

She missed the plural pronoun, her mind latching on the bigger implication. "Oh, now I'm in trouble."