She bit her lip and wouldn't look at him, which gave him a good clue as to what the answer was.

"Sarah," he said softly, "it doesn't matter."

"Doesn't it?" She looked up at him then, a guilty expression on her face.

He shook his head. Of course it did, but he could hardly tell her that. "As long as we're still friends."

She smiled and he knew he'd done the right thing. Now he just had to work out how to fall out of love with Sarah Jane Smith.

"Hunt!"

It's an unfamiliar man who's called his name, but Gene can see his Sergeant's stripes and, despite only a week in the job, he doesn't hesitate to obey.

"Sarge."

The Sergeant assigns him his beat and, together with another PC, he steps out of the station. He can barely remember the dream. He couldn't have been shot - who would cross Gene Hunt?

"Oh, it was easy," he said, peeling her away from him. "All I had to do was--"

She cut him off, taking his hands briefly. "I don't care. You saved us, that's all I need to know." She beamed at him and stepped into the TARDIS.

Harry, who was no less grateful, but not so keen on the hugging, caught hold of the Doctor's arm before he could follow Sarah. "I'd like to know, Doctor."

The Doctor grinned at him and tapped the side of his nose.

Rory gave up trying to hoist Amy upwards and Amy gave up looking for handholds on smooth rock. "It was Rory's fault," she said.

"What? No, it wasn't."

"You kissed me and then backed me down a hole."

The Doctor rolled his eyes. "Do you want to get out of there or not?"

They did, and this time, when Rory buckled under Amy's weight on his shoulders, the Doctor took her from him.

"Now, how do we get Rory out?"

"Oh dear. I hadn't thought of that."

"I thought you liked me this close," Jack said, grinning.

"I do. I'd just rather have a little more room, if it's all the same to you."

Jack frowned. "You're not claustrophobic."

"Aren't I?"

"It's okay, I know a cure." Jack's cure started with kissing and then moved onto other things. Ianto might have protested - he was busy trying not to have a panic attack after all - but it was at least taking his mind off the very small box they were both trapped in.

Yet their party was not without injury and Elrond left her side to tend to them. There were others who made sure they had hot water for bathing and good food to eat.

Celebrían saw to those who had not been to Imladris before and were looking round in wonder. She smiled and greeted them, and soon they felt as if Imladris had always been their home.

"You did just spend all night making sure Scott and Billy didn't commit that robbery."

Sam shook his head. "No, I mean I'm tired of being in other people's lives, of not being able to go home."

Al didn't reply, so after a while Sam opened an eye. Al looked down at him with sympathy and guilt in his expression.

Upon realising he was being observed, Al said, "If there was something I could do..."

But they both knew there wasn't and Sam leaped as he fell asleep.

Elrond heard the question and leaned over the balcony to find out why Elladan was asking it.

"But you do it wrong," Elrohir replied. "You're supposed to grip it like this."

Both Elrond's sons held swords and neither had yet seen their father watching them from above. Elrond smiled as he watched them demonstrate the effectiveness of their different holds and try each others out. He resisted telling them they were both right. They would work it out on their own eventually and the knowledge would be sweeter for having been gained by themselves.

Today she had a black dress in mind, which required a specific style of shoe. The trouble was that so many colours went with black. In the end it was the red ones that swayed her. They stood out so fabulously and she'd be sure not to clash with the TARDIS.

Wesley looked at the ground and trailed his foot in the dirt. Harry could hardly blame him, given that it had only been a few months since Adam died.

"Wesley." The boy did look up at last. "If there's anything you need, you let me know, okay?"

Wesley nodded. Harry put a hand on his shoulder. He wished he could do more, but what Wesley needed most was his parents back. Since Harry couldn't do that, for now, his reassurance and his presence would have to be enough.

Elizabeth smiled sympathetically. "I know what you mean. You do your best for them, but they don't always appreciate it."

Teyla nodded. "Your people do not have a great history of female leaders. Is it harder because you are a woman?"

Elizabeth considered it. "It shouldn't." This was the 21st century. "But I'm not sure."

"I believe many of those in Atlantis do not care," Teyla assured her.

"Thank you, Teyla." Even this short chat had made Elizabeth feel better already.

"We're not at work now, Mickey." Jack, looking concerned, stepped forward so his desk wasn't between them.

"I know. I just..." He sighed. "Even if I tell you as a friend, you'll still have to act on it as the Superintendent."

"So-" Jack put his hands on his hips "-it's something at work?"

"Yeah, but I'll get it sorted."

"I'll hold you to that." Jack pointed a finger at him and when he turned away, Mickey took his chance to escape.

He smiled. "You shall go to the ball."

Rose laughed. "Yeah, but my favourite bit was the carriage made out of a pumpkin. Mum used to buy one every Halloween, but it never turned into anything."

The Doctor was quiet for a moment, and then he said, "I used to hope that a nekaya would turn into a TARDIS."

Rose sat up straight and looked at him, wide-eyed.

The Doctor grinned. "What, you think fairy stories are only found on Earth?"

"It's the best thing I've done. Even better than becoming President." Jed shooed the Doctor out of his chair. "Although it's like having a whole country of children to look after."

The Doctor sat in first one chair and then another. Jed cornered him on the sofa. "Most of the friends you've introduced to me have been young women."

"I must be going." The Doctor jumped to his feet. "Planet to save."

"I can see they appreciate it."

The Doctor paused, but didn't look back.

"I'm glad you asked me that, Kenny." Colin perched on the edge of Kenny's desk. "It's a tasty snack when you're on the go." Colin picked the cucumber slice from his forehead and put it in his mouth. "Only fifty pence a slice. I've got a hundred cucumbers in my office."

"No, thanks, Colin."

Kenny shook his head and turned back to his work, wondering when he'd learn never to ask what Colin was up to. He certainly didn't want to know where those cucumbers had come from.

"Yes, thank you, Ace," the Doctor said as she helped him out of the hole.

"I really need to work on those timers."

"Yes, you do." He gave her a serious look. "I think you need some chemistry lessons."

"No." Her eyes went wide. "I'm not going back to school."

"Not school, just private lessons. I've got someone in mind I think you'll like."

"Why?" Ace folded her arms.

"Because he's an old friend of mine."

She relented a little. "Alright. I'll meet him, but I'm not making any promises."

He smiled and tapped Ace on the nose.

"You're the only person I trust who can find the truth. If there was any other way..." She left the sentence hanging on a promise.

Will sighed. "I'll do it."

She smiled, but it didn't make him feel any better about lying to her.

"Why didn't women always have the vote?"

At this question, Sarah smiled. The treatment of women throughout history was something she knew about and it was comforting to know that Luke couldn't understand why women weren't treated as the equals of men.

Elrond was also terribly upset that day. Arwen had been torn away from him and when he went to the West he would never see her again. He would not be there to see how she prospered, nor to greet his grandchildren.

But today he could be happy, tomorrow he would grieve.