Born of Fire (Doctor Who AU)

Chapter 35 All Hope Lies in the Heavens

19th December, the Friday afternoon before winter break found Daniel sitting at his desk completing the paperwork for his first full term as the lead teacher. He was chuffed, he really was. Fourteen students sent to him because others had rolled their eyes in frustration and given up on attempting to educate them. And now he'd proven the naysayers utterly wrong. He pulled out his last report and reviewed every test score and the results of the student's latest evaluation. A shadow fell across his desk, forcing him to look up at Sam. The man stood there, dressed in his kilt for the holiday party, grinning at him.

"I've waited all day to give you a proper gift. So, when you're finished signing those reports, I'll give it to ya and then we can go to the end of term party. I am so ready for two blessed weeks without Melody Pond raising her hand to ask a ridiculous question or watch her egging on the jimmies," he said.

"Yeah, she is a trial, isn't she?" Daniel said, half distracted by the last report. "I'm finished. I just signed off on Millie's report. Do you know that she has come up three grade levels this term? Her last teacher wanted to institutionalise the girl. Her parents have done really well with her." 

"Where does our favourite student come in?" Sam dropped down next to Daniel, peering at the stack of reports.

"Ah, you know, if we could get her to stop being so cheeky, we could move her out of here to regular classes. I may try it when we come back. Her grades are nearly flawless, and above level. She passed her practise exam in Literature with a ninety-four percent, and maths at one hundred percent."

"Daniel, you do realise you have performed a miracle with these wee'uns. They deliberately loaded this class with every reject in the district and you turned them into stars."

"They are bloody brilliant, aren't they?" Daniel beamed. "Mr Williams will have to readjust his predictability ratio for our school."  

"You are a bloody brilliant teacher."

"I just think weird. So, what's this about a gift?  Sarah Jane said no gifts, so I didn't ...."

"No, this is just from the wife and me. You can't open it till Nollaig, though," Sam grinned.

"Why not, I love presents." Daniel pushed away to join Sam by his cubby, grinning broadly at the prospect of a present a week early.

Sam pulled a box with a dark blue bow intertwined with pink ribbon out of his rucksack.  "My Molly made this for you. She couldn't find much on your name," he started, carefully undoing the ribbon as he spoke, "and since you said your mum was English she decided you don't have a clan. So, she made this for your new family," he said handing over the gift.

Daniel sucked in a breath when he saw a plate, carefully wrapped in a green, blue and black tartan cloth. A phoenix rising from the fires of a crumbled, burning castle formed a crest against a blue starry background. The words, All Hope Lies in the Heavens, curved around the scene. Pinned to the tartan was a matching brooch. Daniel stared, awestruck at the art. 

He stuttered his thanks. "Sam, I -- I am gobsmacked."  

"This is for that ceremony you were telling me about." Sam pulled out a second plainly wrapped package. "You opened the first one, might as well open this one."

Daniel was excruciatingly slow opening the package. "It's a kilt: a proper kilt." He looked up, stunned.

"There is a shop in town that can set you up with the rest of the outfit. If you're marrying a McGregor, you need to dress the part."

"Sam -- I ....  Nora will love this. I am beyond grateful. I wish you could come to London for the ceremony."

"You'll bring back pictures?"