You Can't Go Home Again (or can you?)

Part 8

As the three former travel companions made their way down the corridor toward the lounge area Zoe had suggested, the Doctor couldn't help being preoccupied. He'd sensed something was up in that small corner of the library, as if there was some other presence. His sonic screwdriver had picked up on something interesting – something that harkened back to a predicament from one of his more recent incarnations and had an emotional component to it. Still, he wasn't completely sure of it and needed to study it further. He decided he'd push it to the back of his mind for now and concentrate on Zoe and her memories (or lack thereof).

Zoe slowed to a stop in front of what appeared to be a good-sized break room of sorts. He watched her try the door handle and frown.

"What is it?" Jamie asked.

"It's locked. The cleaning staff must have been in here earlier and forgot to unlock it." She sighed. "We'll have to find somewhere else--"

"Oh, no we won't," the Doctor broke in, seizing his sonic screwdriver and holding it up to the lock in order to pick it. He caught Jamie grinning triumphantly as he tried the handle and it opened easily.

"How did you do that??" Zoe asked, her mouth hanging open.

"Sonic screwdriver. One of its functions is a lock pick, in among many other uses." The Doctor didn't even question having to explain this to Zoe. Obviously if she'd had all her memories, she wouldn't have had to ask. He supposed Jamie was probably quite disappointed to see she had to be told about it, but it certainly didn't mean all her memories were gone. Perhaps they were just returning piecemeal as his had.

"Speaking of which, Doctor, I seem tae remember the sonic screwdriver looking a bit different," Jamie pointed out as Zoe entered the room in front of them.

"Oh, yes. Well ... It's an upgrade, my boy!" he exclaimed. "You'd be amazed at how many things this little instrument can do now."

Jamie nodded thoughtfully but still seemed a bit bewildered. He suddenly leaned in toward the Doctor. "What were ye doin' when you were scanning that area behind Zoe's desk?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Did ye find something?"

The Doctor cringed inwardly. Now was not the time to talk about this. He decided to be vague and would go into more detail with Jamie later. "Just thought I picked up on a few anomalies. I don't think it's anything to worry about, at least not now." He dismissively waved a hand.

He caught Jamie gazing at him skeptically. "Oh, aye. Come off it, Doctor. Somethin's up, isnae it."

The Time Lord sighed. "I'm not completely certain. I need to study the scans a bit more back in the TARDIS. But, no, it's not something that needs our immediate attention. We will do what we set out to do with Zoe first and then I'll come back to it. I promise. Now let's join her before she starts wondering if we left the galaxy."

Jamie finally nodded, giving the Doctor a sheepish smile.

They entered the lounge area and found Zoe sitting on a large, purple, plush sofa. The Doctor let Jamie approach first and watched as he looked tentatively at Zoe, as if asking for permission to sit next to her. She nodded and once Jamie had sat down, the Doctor took his seat on an armchair of similar color opposite them.

The Doctor met Zoe's gaze and she'd raised her eyebrows, seemingly a signal for him to begin.

"Where do you want me to start?"

She gave a small shrug. "Start at the beginning. Jamie mentioned you went through a process called regeneration."

The Time Lord nodded. "Yes, when I'm near death I have the ability to assume a new body, new mannerisms and personality, all of that. The smaller, dark-haired version of me which you recently met was my second incarnation. I'm now on my thirteenth."