The Eighth Doctor felt the weight of stares on the back of his head and spared a glance over his shoulder to see his younger self and Tegan at the door. He had a sudden image of Tegan as he had left her just a day previous. She had been standing with Amy, her hands looped over her daughter's shoulders, bidding them adieu. Her eyes had clouded when he had gathered his frock coat and had offered to have her and Amy along as well.

He had told her it was just going to be a small jaunt to the Eye of Orion. He had promised not to do anything else. She had known something was going on. He could see it in the way that her brown eyes widened and their color swirled from a warm chocolate to a wary cocoa. As he had pulled at his lapels to straighten them, he had once again felt the powerful wave of regret he had had when he regenerated into his Sixth self. And a large part of him wanted to hold her as he had before. But they were different people and the relationship had different dynamics; she didn't accept his touches, his embraces the same way she had the Doctor to whom she was more attuned.

He missed that sometimes.

But this Tegan, standing at the door with her arms crossed over her chest, was younger and fierier. He remembered being in awe of her. He still was but for different reasons. Then he had found that her sense of loyalty and moral correctness unerring and entirely awe-inspiring. He had liked it as much as he liked her sense of humor and as much as he hated their sparring sessions.

"The children are well?" he asked.

"Quite," came the rumble from his other self.

"No thanks to you," Tegan bit out, her voice heavy with her disbelief and hurt. "I suppose it slipped your mind that you had brought my son on board this station."

He straightened and turned, leaning back against the console. "Tegan."

She lifted her eyebrows in feigned interest and shifted her weight. "I don't understand how if you know him well enough or even cared about him enough that he calls you.him.Daddy how you could bring him into something like this. Even walk out of the TARDIS."

"Yes, I would rather like that question attended to as well," his Fifth self muttered and strode into the TARDIS. His strides brought him down the steps quickly and Tegan followed. At the bottom of the steps, he reached out to catch her elbow. "Stay calm, Tegan."

"Calm? You're just as angry as I am," she sputtered. "How can you tell me to stay calm?"

The Eighth Doctor lowered his eyes. "There's a great deal I have to explain without revealing your future to you or to him, Tegan."

"Well, you can start now," she nearly growled. As she neared, he could see the tracks of her tears and the new ones that were gathering at the corners.

"I would give her some support," the Eighth Doctor muttered to his Fifth incarnation, turning from her angry gaze to flick a few buttons. "Where is Mike?"

"Sleeping," the Fifth Doctor answered. "In my TARDIS." The elder Doctor winced from the anger in his voice. "Turlough will let us know when he wakes."

"He's not harmed?" he asked quietly, turning back to spare himself a glance.

"How, I don't know," Tegan rocketed back. "What with the guns and firing. You weren't there. You don't know what it was like for them.for us."

"Oh, but I do," the Eighth Doctor responded. "I can assure you; I do. I was there." He pointed to his younger incarnation.

**

The Doctor joined Tegan at the railing. The height of the catwalk afforded an excellent view of the center and the four large reactors that flanked it. He looked down for a moment and the grasped Tegan's arm to move her back from the edge. His shock and anger at the situation showed plainly on his young face. "They're down there somewhere.the children.probably in one of the shielded reactor casings." Turlough joined them, casting his steel-colored gaze around the reactor room. "Hmm, and they have quite some firepower down there. Those are hand- held laser cannons," he whispered.

The Doctor gave his friend a stare. "I'm not going to ask how you know that."

"What are they going for in those outfits?" Tegan asked, sarcastically.

"Hmm," he frowned and motioned for his friend to follow as he walked along the catwalk. "Those are ceremonial robes, Tegan. They are worn, surprisingly, for ceremonies."

Turlough jogged to keep up with them, edging Tegan toward the inside. "If we're correct about the calculation of time, Doctor," he glanced at his watch. "We have less than ten minutes."

With a nod, the Doctor began to run. "Yes, I do rather understand the need to rush."

**

Turlough followed the Doctor, mirroring the steps that his friend was using. He had to admit that although he despaired of the Time Lord's sanity when he had turned down the gun offer, he was impressed by his friend's mind for strategy. As they stopped running, Turlough glanced behind him to wave the guards back against the side of the reactor casing. The Doctor pressed flat against the side of the housing and held up a finger to keep him quiet.

Tegan joined them a moment later, skidding to a stop next to them.

"Hmm," the Doctor frowned, his voice barely above a breath. "At least thirty."

Turlough nodded and motioned to the guards to keep well back. "Well," he returned, whispering in the Doctor's ear, "we weren't planning on taking them on you know. They're wearing 20 photon lasers under their robes. I would advise as little contact as possible with them."

Tegan frowned at the both of them and squeezed between both of their shoulders to quickly glance about the area. "No children."

"Obviously being prepared for their grand entrance," the Doctor returned. "And as the front door isn't being watched, as it were; the guards are too busy 'getting religion', I suggest we use it. Follow me, as quietly as possible."

**

Trisk could feel the surge of incredible eroticism she always received when she put on her robes. The crimson silk felt the same as it always did, both on Earth and in space. The bright golden cross made her feel as though she was wearing light itself. And the flames that outlined her cross made her feel as though she was part of cleansing fire.

The children sniffling behind her drifted away as she began to chant with the others around her. She felt the growing feeling of acceptance, of fervor. Closing her eyes, she succumbed to the rising sound around her.

**

"Oh Lord," Tegan breathed as she entered reactor housing. Several children huddled in the back of the housing, holding onto one another. She could see that several had bruises, but none had major injuries. She slowly approached the group, quietly telling them she was a friend. Immediately a small girl disengaged from the others and came over to bury her face in Tegan's legs. She hugged the child and made a count. The Doctor joined her, frowning. "There's at least twelve," she murmured quietly. "What's your name, dear?"

The girl didn't answer Tegan, but whimpered into her trousers. The Doctor retreated to the door, obviously uneasy around the children. Turlough was crouching near the door, watching the group outside with wary eyes. The Doctor admitted that he was both surprised and impressed with Turlough's attention to military matters. He made a mental note to talk about the boy's past when they were out of danger. "What do you think, hmm?"

Turlough rubbed his lips with his fingers and glanced at the other guards. "I think we're too short on time. Back door?" "I highly doubt it," the Doctor muttered, squatting next to Turlough. "Sometimes I truly miss K-9," he admitted with a sigh. Turning quickly he contemplated the guards. "Do you think you could present some sort of a distraction without getting yourselves killed? Possibly back towards the TARDIS and then draw them off to the side, deeper into the corridors?"

The guards gave a hesitant nod after contemplating each other.

The Doctor frowned momentarily and tapped Turlough on the arm. "Tegan has to stay with the children. I shall go with the guards. Get her and the children back to the TARDIS."

Turlough glanced back at his friend who now had three children crowded around her. "I'm definitely better with guns than children. And I'm terrible with guns. I'll go with the guards; you take the children back the way of the TARDIS. We'll get back there as quickly as possible."

"It'll be dangerous," the Doctor warned.

"So will herding twelve young children," Turlough whispered back with a frown. "We'll go.and we'll shoot off a laser round. When you hear it, watch out the door and go when you can. Believe it or not, Doctor, I do have some head for strategy."

The Doctor extended his hand to shake Turlough's. Turlough glanced out the door, waved on the guards and snuck back out into the darkness. Tegan stared after him and then gave the Doctor a small frown. "He chose," the Doctor whispered. "How are the children?"

"As far as I can tell, they're fine," she whispered in return. "But how are we going to get them out once the way is clear? These children are five or so years old, Doc."

"Carry, push, plead," he responded, picking up a little boy. The lad turned his face into his shoulder. The Doctor absently rubbed at the boy's head and nodded towards the front of the reactor casing. Several children followed him, one grabbed at his free hand. Tegan joined him holding a small child in her arms. With a nod, she let him know that she was fine.

**

The Doctor adjusted his cravat and then calmly walked down the steps from the console into the depths of the room. As he walked, he invited the others to join him. "Please. I always feel long talks are better completed in comfort; don't you?"

Tegan frowned and remained where she was, her arms crossed over her chest. The Fifth Doctor reached out to gently lead her to the seating arrangement with his hand at the small of her back. The Eighth Doctor sat with a small bounce in the large overstuffed chair in the corner and graciously extended his hand to show them to sit on the couch.

"I'd much prefer to stand," she spat out, glaring at the Eighth Doctor. He wilted a little under her stare, giving her a gentle, I'm sorry, smile. The Fifth Doctor sighed and sat, leading her down by her hand. They sat together on the couch, crowded a little. The elder Doctor watched as his younger self self-consciously moved a little away from his companion. Oh what a difference ten years would make, he thought ruefully.

"Let's hear him out," the Fifth Doctor encouraged. He fixed his elder self with a glance. "I would rather like to hear what he comes up with for an explanation. I always surprise myself with my depth of imagination in those things."

"Ah, sarcasm," the Eighth Doctor whispered. "I had forgotten that I liked to use it. What a sharp tongue I had. Yes, Tegan, do sit. And, I do believe you should give her support."

The Fifth Doctor glanced at Tegan and sat back against the couch. "Yes well.how about you begin."

The Eighth Doctor sat back against the chair and folded his hands over his crossed knees. "I shall tell you what I know. For I do know that you, we, won't remember it until the time is right. You know how these Limitation Effects work. As for Tegan, this is a touch with her own future and shall forget as well. The only thing that will be unknown is the future. Your future, Tegan, and my own, as it should be."

"Very poetic," she commented, her eyes showing her lack of belief.

He turned his eyes to her, watching as she bravely and strongly met his stare. His voice was harsher than he anticipated when he began to speak:

"You'll leave me someday, Tegan. Someday when the time is right," he smiled as he saw intricate body language in his younger self that showed his unease with that subject. "And you'll go on and marry, happily. You'll live a normal life. You'll love and be loved. And you'll have two wonderful children."

The Fifth Doctor opened his mouth to interrupt, but the Eighth Doctor shook his head. "She will remember none of this. You will remember none of this. I remembered none of this until recently," he turned his attention back to Tegan. "A beautiful and brilliant daughter and a very curious and loving son. And one day, I," he nodded to the Fifth Doctor, "will return to you. And after a time, you will have a close friendship. So close that you will consider and will to a certain extent help raise the children.

"Although Amy will never get the hang of calling you Daddy, Mike will. And often," the Eighth Doctor leaned forward. "And it will convince you to be their father, in name and action," he said quietly. ":In name, action and by the Terran legal system. I won't tell you how it won't come to be, but it won't. But it will never stop you from loving the children. We will visit them, through all of the incarnations between you and I. You will see Mike walk, change his diaper, teach him to ride a bike, hang his Christmas shopping and butter his toast. Tegan will welcome us into her family with open arms under many faces and we will be known by many names.

"And then, after spending Amy's birthday, you will wake up one moment and realize that you had seen Mike on this station in that situation, in danger, and understand that it is your past and that you can't not do what is there. We're a slave to time. Time Lords, ha!" he laughed bitterly. "We don't lord over time; it controls us."

"Temporal paradox," the Fifth Doctor whispered, his eyes widening. "Great Rassilon."

The Eighth Doctor nodded. "Granted small in the Universal scheme of things, but yes, a temporal paradox. I saw me as you with Mike; I have to have Mike here as me so you can see him. What happens after this, neither one of us knows."

"So what," Tegan growled. "You brought my son here in order to make sure your life isn't interrupted?"

"Temporal paradoxes are more than just an interruption," the Fifth Doctor gently explained. "They are very dangerous. But he is right in saying this is very small compared with the universe at large."

"But it is small compared to the universe," Tegan replied back harshly.

"What happens when you take a loose thread on a knitted cloak, Tegan?" the Eight Doctor began, mumbling his question with his head inclined. "And you pull on that thread, you worry at it. It unravels. That one thread can unravel the whole thing."

"But we're talking." she argued.

"About your life and mine," the Fifth Doctor replied, turning his sad blue eyes toward her.

"Exactly," the Eighth Doctor continued. He rose to pace the floor, the tails of his green frock coat fluttering like a maddened bird about his legs. "There will be a tickling at the back of my mind in the future when I meet you again, Tegan. A need to be close to you, to protect you. It probably comes from this little snafoo we see ourselves in now. And the fact that we are with you at a crucial time in your life will seem small and trifle. Our influence on your children will seem loving, but normal. But his," he turned to point at himself. "His love for your children and the way that you support him will launch him back into the vortex with renewed purpose. And your children.will benefit from that. Your children are destined to do great things, Tegan. You are destined to go great things. All of this, your children, their children, our purpose, and the influence and things that we do in the universe are all affected by this. Without this.temporal paradox.to muddy our way, we might never do any of it. The cloak will unravel."

She swallowed and looked to her friend. After searching his gaze, she turned her attention back to the other Time Lord. "Does Mike.does he.die?"

"No," the Eighth Doctor smiled. "I remember that much."

The Fifth Doctor nodded and sighed. "You say that your and Tegan's relationship is strong?"

"Very. Weaker than what it was when I was you," the Eighth Doctor explained. "But so very strong now." The younger, fair version of the Time Lord contemplated his other self. "And that relationship when you return Mike?"

The Eighth Doctor nodded, biting his lip. "Yes, yes, well, you would expect it to change drastically, knowing our friend."

"Damn straight," Tegan whispered, both in pain and anger. "I won't remember any of this, you say. Then I won't understand."

"..a thing about this whole situation, no," the Eighth Doctor agreed. "I have a feeling I will be in great danger of losing your affection. And believe me, Tegan, that was probably the major thing that almost had me fighting this paradox. I can't imagine not being a part of your life or theirs."

"You made that decision," the girl replied, sorrowfully. Her eyes remained downcast.

He nodded quickly, aware that she could not see him. "As you said, Tegan, it is small in the way of the Universe, but large in my life. But." he sighed. "To choose between personal pain and the unraveling of a future that might have far reaching implications.I had to choose as I did."

Her gaze lifted to spear him with a glance. "I'm going to go check on Michael, then," she said, coolly and rose. Within moments, she had left the TARDIS, silence in her wake.

"How close." the Fifth Doctor muttered to the painful silence that rose around them.

"Extremely. You will love her in your future," the Eighth Doctor replied, staring at the closing doors of the TARDIS. "And her children will adore you and the feeling will be mutual. I truly don't know what awaits me back on Earth in her time. I only hope that there is some redemption planned by the powers that be."

"We could have chosen to thumb our noses at the paradox," the Fifth Doctor stated, rising as well. His skin color was paler than usual. "Brave the future. We can't love. I've realized by my age that it's beyond Gallifreyans to feel that way."

"You will understand it. You and I both know it doesn't work that way," the Eighth Doctor frowned. "I have a feeling I will be bidding fare-the- well to a relationship that defined you and molded others when I return. And there is nothing I can do but tell myself I was a slave to time." He contemplated his other self. "I do believe the little boy in you and I that has always wished the best in the Universe has just been made to grow up. I don't believe I like that feeling."

**