This Time Round: Apologies -- by Tyler Dion Watch it! It's a serious "This Time Round" tale! * * * * * This Time Round grew quiet as the Doctor with the green coat entered. Well, somewhat quiet. Mainly at the bar where Susan was sitting. Regardless of the condemning hush the Doctor strode up to the bar and chose the stool next to Susan's to sit on. "Hello," he said brightly. She responded with the same, if in a cool and detached tone. A few strained moments passed while Susan sipped at her drink and the Doctor started constructing a chain of paper clips. "Please, I have to know -- " she blurted out suddenly and stopped just as quickly. She was hesitant for a moment, but plowed ahead. "Why... why did you leave me behind?" Unusually, it was the Doctor who was caught for words. "I...I don't know. I can't explain it. It was time for you to go, that's all." "Don't let him give you that 'I-had-my-reasons' shit," Dorothee advised Susan from further down the bar. "It wasn't good enough then and it's not good enough now." She slammed down her now-empty pint mug and stalked away, dragging Jason-2 along. "No," the Doctor agreed, "it's not. But then apologies aren't the sort of thing I'm used to. This isn't the sort of thing I can put into words." "You heard me," Ace snapped from behind the bar. "That's not good enough." She glanced down nervously, then imperceptibly straightened. Now the Doctor popped up from behind the bar, jamming his Panama hat in place over tousled hair and straightening his tie. "Yes, do tell," he said slyly. "Surely we've improved some over the years?" The Doctor sitting next to Susan sighed and hung his head. He rose from his seat and walked away. For a moment he appeared to be leaving, but he veered away from the exit and towards the stage. Matt Clifton's hippie Chancellor Flavia was trying to coerce the pub's surly denizens into a rousing chorus of "Kumbaya." She strummed the opening chords on her acoustic guitar for emphasis. The Doctor took her off to the side for a moment and began speaking quietly but vigorously. After a moment or two, Flavia began nodding in agreement. The pair returned to the stage, the Doctor taking the mike and Flavia sitting in a conveniently placed wicker chair. He gently tapped the mike, causing a squeal of feedback, and winced along with the rest of the pub-goers. "Sorry," he said embarrassedly into the microphone. Flavia strummed the opening notes, retuned her guitar, and strummed again. The Doctor straightened his lapels, took in a deep breath, and began: "The controls are set, I'm ready to go, You're standing there outside the door I hate to force you now to say goodbye. But you have got to go, your life's just born, Freedom's callin', she's blown her horn. Already I'm so lonesome I could die. So hold me in memory, Tell me you won't forget me, Memories of you I won't let go 'Cause I'm leaving in my TARDIS Don't think that I'll be back again Susan, I hate to go. There's so many paths I've led you down So many times we nearly drowned I tell you now you don't need me now. Ev'ry place I go I think of you Ev'ry wrong I fight I fight for you. When I come back it'll be your wedding day. So hold me in memory, Tell me you won't forget me, Memories of you I won't let go 'Cause I'm leaving in my TARDIS Don't think that I'll be back again Susan, I hate to go. Now the time has come to leave you One more time let me see you, Then turn away, I'll be on my way. Dream about your days to come, When you won't have to be alone About the time when I don't have to say. So hold me in memory, Tell me you won't forget me, Memories of you I won't let go 'Cause I'm leaving in my TARDIS Don't think that I'll be back again Susan, I hate to go." The voice wasn't the best. Wil likened it to old Gareth after a night with the bottle for company. Benny was reminded of last night at the Witch and Whirlwind. All the K9s (including the one the Doctor had built and not yet given away), shut down their audio inputs circuits for fear of irreparable damage to the sensitive equipment. He wavered a little at some parts, but never forgot a word. What the Doctor lacked in skill he made up for in feeling. "No improvement at all," the Doctor sniffed. He dropped back beneath the bar when Ace pulled heavily on his tie. It wasn't the best song by any means. But it made Susan smile. End * * * * * Forever and always, "Doctor Who" is copyright the BBC. "This Time Round" was created by Tyler Dion ('atsa me!) and inspired by Kielle's Subreality Cafe. The source lyrics, "Leaving on a Jet Plane," were written by John Denver.