A disaster perpetrated by a renegade Time Lord finds the Doctor being forced to work with his past selves to resolve it. This Time Lord has not only placed his very existence in jeopardy, but also Time itself. The Doctors may be a bit in over their...
"But Doctor, I dinnae want tae go back!" Jamie cried desperately. "I want tae stay with you! ... With both of ye!"
The current Doctor sighed, regarding Jamie in frustration. He hated to be like this. The expression on Jamie's face reminded him of the way he looked when he was forced to leave him the last time, thanks to the Time Lords. That expression made his hearts ache but he tried desperately to ignore it. He was well aware of Jamie's undying loyalty – hell, he wouldn't be Jamie without it – but he wanted the lad to be safe. This fight was one only to be fought between himself and Omega.
"It'll be all right, Jamie," he told the young Scot. "I'm fine." He suddenly felt a soft kick to his shin and turned, finding his previous self eyeing him expectantly. "We're fine," he amended his statement.
"But Doctors --"
"Really, Jamie. We know you wish to help, but there's nothing left for you to do here," the previous Doctor insisted, his tone as tactful as possible as he gave Jamie a sad smile and slight pat on the shoulder. He then gestured toward the well from which the singularity rose. "Now, go up those steps and into the mist, there. You'll arrive straight back on Earth with Jo, Sergeant Benton and the others."
"But what aboot you?" Jamie asked, not letting up.
"Oh, I'm sure we'll be just fine," he replied, turning to the current Doctor with a sly wink.
Suppressing a chuckle, the current Doctor smiled. "We'll see you all later." He nodded to Jamie and pointed to the well. "Now, there's a good chap."
Appearing quite frustrated as he looked them over, Jamie eventually sighed and reluctantly plodded over to the well where the Brigadier was standing, waving him through. The Doctor noticed Jamie shooting the military man a look, which was answered with a quick, forced smile.
"After you, McCrimmon," he told Jamie. Jamie took another deep breath and then slowly walked into the smoke and vanished.
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The Doctor finally released the breath he was holding, feeling an enormous weight being lifted off him. He then met the Brigadier's gaze as the man nodded in their direction.
"Goodbye, Doctor ... Doctors," he declared with a thin smile. He walked up the steps and then turned to salute them both, just before disappearing into the smoke himself.
The Doctor stared at the space which had formerly occupied each of his friends. He was beyond relieved they were now safe back on Earth with the others, but was saddened they all somehow thought this was goodbye.
"So, brother Time Lords," Omega's booming voice interrupted his reverie. "I have played your game. Now it is your time to play mine." He raised his voice threateningly. "And there can be no escape for any of us!"
The second Doctor sneaked into the TARDIS, returning with the device they'd put together with his recorder in the center. "You are wrong, Omega. You can have your freedom," he stated firmly, holding up the device. "It is here."
