dbskyler: (Sarah from Hand of Fear)
[personal profile] dbskyler
Title: To the Rescue
Rating: G
Characters: Sarah, Jack, Jo, K-9, Romana
Spoilers: Hand of Fear
Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction, offered freely. Doctor Who and all characters belong to the BBC.
Beta: [personal profile] brewsternorth
Summary: Sarah Jane is in Aberdeen! Help is on the way.
A/N: Written for The Many Lives of Sarah Jane ficathon. Prompt was #20, but I ended up covering #18 as well.



Captain Jack Harkness -- hero, time traveler and immortal extraordinaire -- sped through the streets of Aberdeen looking for his quarry. Swerving around yet another corner, he ignored the angry gesture a pedestrian gave him, then suddenly brought his black van to a screeching halt. There she was at last, standing on the pavement and peering into the window of a bakery.

Poor girl. Alone, abandoned, dressed in an Andy Pandy outfit and carrying a stuffed owl. She was, if not exactly a pitiful sight, a sight that was hard to miss, even though he'd never met her before.

It was time to rescue her.

"Sarah Jane Smith!" he called, jumping out of the van and running to her side. She turned and stared at him in astonishment. He grinned, shifting his balance so that his greatcoat swished around him. "I'm here," he announced with confident authority. "You'll be all right, now. I'm here."

"I've noticed that," she said, looking him up and down, her astonishment, if anything, growing. "And who exactly are you, might I ask?"

He broadened his trademark grin. "Captain Jack Harkness," he said. Then he reached out an arm and put it around her shoulders. "There, there," he murmured in a soothing tone. "There, there."

She looked at the arm in confusion. "What are you doing, Captain?"

"I'm consoling you," he replied.

"You're what?"

"It's all right," said Jack. "I know all about how the Doctor's just dumped you. A later incarnation of him is going to meet up with an older version of me, find out that I'm on Earth in this time period, then leave a message asking me to come and pick you up. I drove all the way from Cardiff to find you and take you home, because obviously a girl as emotionally wrecked as you are right now shouldn't be on her own."

"Excuse me?" said Sarah. "Emotionally wrecked?" She took a step back, out of range of the arm that was still trying to pat her consolingly.

"Well, because of being dumped, of course. It's okay to cry." He paused. "And if you want to shag like bunnies later to get over it, that's okay, too." Then he winked.

"I see," said Sarah. "Thank you, I suppose."

"You'll let me know?" asked Jack.

"I will," said Sarah. "At the first opportunity."

"Take your time," said Jack. "It's a long drive to Croydon, after all." He indicated the van with a nod of his head.

"Actually," said Sarah, "I was planning on another mode of transport. After I've finished taking in the sights of Aberdeen, that is. But it was very kind of you to come. Tell you what, can I buy you a scone to see you off?"

"Buy me a scone?" said Jack. "You do have a sense of humor, don't you?"

"You don't want a scone?" asked Sarah. "I was just considering getting one for myself."

"Don't be silly," said Jack. "You know you don't have any money. You're alone and adrift, penniless, distraught, and in the middle of nowhere."

She raised her eyebrows. "Aberdeen's the middle of nowhere?"

"Well, figuratively speaking."

"Says the person who's living in Cardiff?"

"Um . . . yes."

"And who said I was distraught?"

"Of course you're distraught. You've just been dumped, after all."

"Left off, yes. Disappointed, yes. A little sad to see the Doctor go, of course. Planning to make him feel guilty about it the next time I see him, definitely. But distraught? I don't think so, Captain."

"Well . . . "

"And another thing. Who told you I was penniless?"

"Of course you're penniless. Why would you have money on you?"

"Why wouldn't I? It's not as if I haven't been to Earth plenty of times with the Doctor. We were just on Earth today, in fact, right before the trip to Kastria. Of course I have money on me. And besides, even if I'd run out of cash, that wouldn't mean I was destitute. Ever heard of a credit card?"

". . . credit card?"

"Ever heard of a bank? You know, those places where people keep money so they can get at it?"

"Um . . . "

"As for being 'alone and adrift,' as you put it, ever stop to consider that as a journalist, I might have contacts all over Britain?"

"Oh."

"And finally, Captain Jack Harkness, did it ever occur to you that anyone who's traveled with the Doctor, who's faced down Sontarans, Cybermen and Daleks, is hardly likely to be fazed by -- Aberdeen?"

"Right," said Jack. She was looking rather angry, and he slowly backed away. "Well, then," he said. "See you around sometime?"

"The next time I see you," she said dangerously, "it had better be because the Daleks are invading."

Jack nodded, then ran for the van.

* * *

"Honestly!" said Jo, laughing over her scone. "Apparently he realized he'd left you in the wrong place, phoned the Brigadier, the Brigadier phoned me, then next thing I know, I'm being bundled into a UNIT helicopter to come and rescue you."

Sarah laughed too as she reached for the marmalade. "Why you?" she asked. "After all, this is the first time we've met."

"The Brig said he thought you'd prefer some "female company," as he put it. I think he expects you're pining over your unrequited love for the Doctor."

She tilted her head and put a melodramatic palm to her forehead. Sarah laughed so hard, half her tea spilled out her cup. Jo joined her in the mopping up, giggling the whole time.

"So why did you come?" asked Sarah when she could finally speak again.

Jo shrugged. "Free trip to Aberdeen." She smiled, and caught Sarah's eye. "Want to use the helicopter to go sight-seeing?"

* * *

Sarah wandered the streets of Aberdeen at random, enjoying the shops she came across. Then she rounded a corner and found her way blocked by a robot dog.

"Mistress," it said. "Mission to locate you has been accomplished. I have been sent by the Doctor-Master to bring you back to Croydon."

Sarah stared at the small robot. Not only was it obviously incapable of giving her a ride, it was also looking a little the worse for wear. "I don't understand. How can you bring me back to Croydon?"

"This unit is capable of locomotion. I have traveled to this location from Croydon, and can return using the same method." It gave a little whir and moved forward two feet, then back again, as if in demonstration.

"You expect me to walk with you all the way back to Croydon?" asked Sarah, incredulous.

"Affirmative, Mistress." It gave another whir, but this time nothing happened. The lights in its eyes began to dim. "Difficulty, Mistress. This unit's batteries are low. Power . . . fading . . ." The lights went out.

"Oh, for pity's sake," said Sarah.

* * *

"Ready to go?" asked Romana, bundling the defunct K-9 into her TARDIS.

"More than." Sarah looked around the console room. It was softly golden in color, with a glowing, welcoming warmth, and Sarah decided she rather liked it. "Thank you for the offer to travel with you after I'd finished traveling with the Doctor."

"Thank you for agreeing to come," said Romana back. She looked up from the controls and smiled. "There's still a lot of universe left to see, after all."

"There is," agreed Sarah happily. Then a thought occurred to her, and she frowned slightly.

"What's wrong?" asked Romana.

"Well, it's just that the Doctor sent all sorts of people after me today, yet the one person I thought he'd be most likely to send didn't come," said Sarah.

"Do you want to wait, just in case they show up?" asked Romana.

"No," said Sarah. "Let's go see more of that universe."

Romana grinned, then pressed the controls for dematerialization.

* * *

Harry looked at the note again in confusion. It was in the Doctor's handwriting, which had always been difficult to read, but from what he had been able to make out, he had thought he was being asked to come pick Sarah up. But he'd been driving around Croydon for hours now, and there was no sign of her.

So Harry gave up and went home.

(no subject)

Date: 2009-03-06 01:46 am (UTC)
evil_plotbunny: (sarah/romana)
From: [personal profile] evil_plotbunny
*loves you and this*

(no subject)

Date: 2009-03-06 01:54 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dbskyler.livejournal.com
Wow, that was a fast response! Really glad you like it, and thanks so much for putting on the ficathon in the first place! As you can tell, I enjoyed myself. : )

(no subject)

Date: 2009-03-06 02:00 am (UTC)
evil_plotbunny: (Default)
From: [personal profile] evil_plotbunny
I happened to just refresh my flist at the right time. :)

I'm glad you were inspired.

(no subject)

Date: 2009-03-06 03:17 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] almosee.livejournal.com
This is fantastic :D
I think I laughed the whole way through it, the Doctor can be a bit dense sometimes. And I really, really loved the way Sarah put Jack in his place :D

(no subject)

Date: 2009-03-06 04:50 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dbskyler.livejournal.com
: ) Jack was mostly me poking fun at some of the fanfic Sarah/Aberdeen tropes -- which, for the record, I am just as guilty of as anyone else. I'm glad this fic made you laugh!

(no subject)

Date: 2009-03-06 06:49 am (UTC)
ext_3965: (SJS Specs Sexiness)
From: [identity profile] persiflage-1.livejournal.com
LOL very hard... In fact, I can hardly type for laughing! Brilliant piece of crack, esp with Jack and K9!

(no subject)

Date: 2009-03-07 12:06 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dbskyler.livejournal.com
It's really [profile] hhertzof's fault for saying "crack is encouraged" -- see what happens when you encourage me? : )

(no subject)

Date: 2009-03-07 05:42 am (UTC)
ext_3965: (SJS Specs Sexiness)
From: [identity profile] persiflage-1.livejournal.com
Quite right too! You should be encouraged!

(no subject)

Date: 2009-03-07 03:20 pm (UTC)

(no subject)

Date: 2009-03-06 09:19 am (UTC)
paranoidangel: PA (Sarah Torturer)
From: [personal profile] paranoidangel
I love that all sorts of people were sent to pick her up. And particularly that she wasn't that upset and was actually perfectly capable of getting herself home from Aberdeen.

(no subject)

Date: 2009-03-07 12:34 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dbskyler.livejournal.com
Having already written the version where Sarah cries at being left, I really enjoyed writing this version where she takes it all completely in stride.

(no subject)

Date: 2009-03-06 09:51 am (UTC)
lullabymoon: Number One looking off screen (Default)
From: [personal profile] lullabymoon
This ia awesome! I was loling the whole way through. Great stuff!

(no subject)

Date: 2009-03-07 12:36 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dbskyler.livejournal.com
Thanks -- glad you liked it!

(no subject)

Date: 2009-03-06 03:18 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pbristow.livejournal.com
Oh this is fantastic! Perfect ending.

And sod continuity. Who likes "K9 and Co." anyway? =;o}

(no subject)

Date: 2009-03-07 12:43 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dbskyler.livejournal.com
Writing crackfic means not having to worry about continuity! ; )

Although, come to think of it, this is arguably canon-compliant if one discounts "K-9 and Company" -- which, like you, I have no trouble doing at all.

(no subject)

Date: 2009-03-06 04:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] doctor-dasha.livejournal.com
That was sooooo funny! The part with Jack was the funniest, but the whole thing was good. And I love Sarah's attitude throughout the piece--very in-character for her, since she is a strong, capable woman.

There is one thing that I'm wondering. Jo offers to fly Sarah home in the helicopter, but in the next scene Sarah is alone again and encountering K-9. So, I was just wondering what ever happened to Jo. Did Sarah turn down Jo's offer, and Jo just flew back to London on her own?

(no subject)

Date: 2009-03-07 01:45 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dbskyler.livejournal.com
Errgh. Actually, my intention there was that Jo is offering Sarah a joyride -- along the lines of "silly Brigadier gave us access to a helicopter, wanna go play with it?" Sorry that it didn't come across correctly. But as for what ultimately happens to Jo, you've got it exactly -- she goes home in the helicopter on her own while Sarah hangs around waiting for Romana to show up.

(no subject)

Date: 2009-03-08 12:23 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dbskyler.livejournal.com
Just wanted to let you know that I've edited the story, so hopefully it's all clear now. Thanks so much for your feedback -- very helpful!

(no subject)

Date: 2009-03-11 12:53 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] doctor-dasha.livejournal.com
Ah, yes, that's clear now. Thanks!

This story really makes me smile! :)

(no subject)

Date: 2009-03-16 09:34 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] revolutionaren.livejournal.com
Haha! I liked this lots! I rather like the idea of Sarah being quite alright about being left in Aberdeen.

Poor Harry though, he tries so hard :)

(no subject)

Date: 2009-03-17 05:03 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dbskyler.livejournal.com
He does try hard, doesn't he? Which is why it's so much fun to write him as utter fail. : )

And I agree with you about Sarah. Because while it's tempting to write her as being upset at being left -- and I've done it myself -- when it comes right down to it, I do believe she could so totally take on Aberdeen.

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