Fixed in Time (Doctor Who Fanfiction)

Getting Noticed and Making Decisions Part One

It wasn't long before Liz left UNIT. Being fairly good friends, we met up on occasion outside of our involvement with the Doctor, and one day she admitted to me that she just wasn't enjoying being the Doctor's assistant.

"What?" I'd asked her, confused. "But you like working with the Doctor!"

"I do." She exhaled, looking wounded. "It's just- I signed up to be the scientific advisor, and now he's taken my place. He doesn't even need me, except to pass him test tubes and tell him how great he is."

Sadly, I knew she was right. "So you're going to leave UNIT then?"

"Yes." She said. "I'll go back to Cambridge, and figure out a course from there."

"Well, I wish you luck then." I smiled and gave her a hug. I was going to miss seeing her so often; she was great to talk to.

"I'll keep in touch." She promised, and I saw she had tears in her eyes. Then she shook her head and grinned. "Though I'm not sure I'll be able to, what with how popular you are now!"

Yeah, that was another thing that had changed. I'd been noticed by a couple of big-name scientists (well, in my field of research), and so I'd been asked to attend conferences and other events around the country and overseas, to discuss scientific advances and all kinds of advanced theories. It was quite intriguing actually, though also stressful, as I was doing that, working in the hospital, continuing my experiments and studies in the laboratory, and also juggling a social life. Oh well, it wasn't too bad.

Soon Liz left, and the Doctor was devastated. I comforted him in what small way I could, insisting it wasn't his fault and whatnot. I knew what he really needed was a new assistant, a role I couldn't fill.

But of course, that wasn't the end, and soon another alien incursion occured, this time while I was off in Cardiff, checking out a factory there, during the event. A plastics company had been manufacturing all sorts of wacky things, like daffodils and troll dolls, and had then gone on a tour. Unsurprisingly, hardly hours after they'd handed out those daffodils there had been mass deaths across London. Yup, the Nestene Conciousness had been controlling the plastic again, and it had been up to the Doctor to stop them. Luckily he'd been able to fling the super-sentient creature back into space, saving countless lives.

A few days after that, I was back in London, and during my free afternoon I visited the covert UNIT facility where the Doctor was.

As I walked in, the Brigadier came out of his office, holding a clipboard.

"Ah, Miss Coche, I see you're here again." he greeted inaffectionately. "What can we do for you this time?"

I laughed at his dryness, knowing that beneath it all the Brigadier was a good guy, but with the Doctor constantly on his nerves I don't think he realy felt like dealing with another Gallifreyan.

"I'm just here to see the Doctor." I said brightly. I was very cheery that day as I'd had a good time in Cardiff.

"Good." Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart tossed his clipboard into my hand. I glanced at the files on there, with scans and excerpts of reports about UNIT's recent alien involvement. "Take this to him, won't you?"

"Of course, Brigadier."

Humming happily, I moved through towards the Doctor's laboratory. On the way I saw Sergeant Benton and had a brief exchange with him. He really was quite a nice fellow. Continuing on my way, I reached the lab and threw the door open.

"Hello, Doctor. Ooh, who's this?" I stopped short when I saw the pleasant young woman with short brown hair seated on a stool and holding a test tube as the Doctor worked on something in full experimental gear.