Small, Beautiful Events

"I do have some idea," the Doctor replied, squeezing Nyssa's hand with his own gratitude, so often silent.

"It is, isn't it? It's been a long time since I've been here."

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"All right then." And the Trion quieted, just keeping a careful hold of the Doctor's hand, unconcerned really about what odd glances they may received.

"You've been before?"

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She brightened immensely when the Doctor applied that bit of pressure to her hand and smiled to him as if to say You're welcome. "So we'll be taking the train?"

"Oh, it is. The weather is nippy, but now that that is settled...I've never been to India. It's lovely."

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"A long time ago, in the future," the Doctor said, a faint smile of reminiscence on his face. Besides the invaders intent on taking over human minds it had been quite nice.

"Yes, to a hotel in walking distance from Eden Gardens - the oldest and finest cricketing ground in India." The name, too, had been a factor in his choice. He was quite glad he'd managed to end up where he wanted.

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"How far into the future? It's hardly the same if it was some thousand years as it would be oh say, five years." Turlough pointed out. "It's lovely though. Present day, yes?"

"Mm. Eden Gardens, Traken, Eye of Orion. I think we're just asking for trouble, Doctor."

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"Oh, a hotel." Nyssa grinned. "Are we staying overnight then, Doctor? How long do proper cricket matches last, anyways?"

Nyssa half-leaned on the Doctor's shoulder, holding his hand in hers, the side of her head resting against his arm and her lips turned in a smile. "Well, it's not exactly a schedule. It's just a list of places that I wouldn't mind seeing. We don't have to go in any order."

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"I'm sure we can fit some catastrophes in between," the Doctor assured him, smiling softly as he felt Nyssa against him.

"And yes, if you mean 2007." He turned his head to turn his smile on Nyssa, his eyes holding an excited gleam - the one that comes before a cheerful lecture.

"Well, there are three forms - limited overs, first class, and test. The first, well, it's also called 'one-day' for a reason. First class has a maximum of three of four says and test cricket has five. ...That's probably more than you wanted to know."

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"Because I certainly could do with a run-in with the Daleks right about now." Turlough promised, sarcastically. "Let's throw in the Black Guardian while we're at it, shall we?"

"2007? The last I was on Earth it was the 1980s still, and twenty years can't have past..."

Turlough listened, mildly. "Just so long as I don't have to play, I'm fine."

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"Don't even tease like that, Turlough." Nyssa warned, wide-eyed.

Nyssa considered the year and spoke after a moment. "Well, time is relative, isn't it? Perhaps years pass differently on Trion?"

"Well, which form are we planning on viewing?"

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"I think wherever we ended up has its own Timeline, quite apart from where we were before," the Doctor said thoughtfully.

"One-day," he said to Nyssa, "Starting tomorrow if I'm right." He looked alarmed for a moment.

"Oh, dear, I hope I haven't gone too far."

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"Where have we ended up, anyways? The ARTEMIS machine is generally fairly accurate, and I never expected to end up...Well. Wherever we are."

Turlough made a face. "We'll just check a newspaper. There's bound to be one at the station."

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"It's a strange sort of place in the most lovely way, isn't it? All three of us turned up and here we are now in India." She paused. "Do you suppose it's an alternate universe? Like where Adric came from?"

"One-day." Nyssa repeated and she nodded in agreement with Turlough. "I do hope we're in the right place, the match would have already begun by now if we're on the day of the game, yes?"

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"Excellent idea, Turlough, it should be easy enough to find one."

At Nyssa's suggestion Doctor stiffened just slightly - hardly noticeable, and gone soon after. He hardly noticed squeezing their hands.

"It is possible. I'm fairly sure people from different dimensions can access it - it could be a sort of intersecting point..." He nodded then, distantly.

"Matches usually begin around 9:30 am, so that they're finished by dusk."

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"Well, I do have them from time to time, don't I?"

He felt the Doctor's hand tighten about his and he wanted to ask what had happened, what Nyssa meant and if speaking about Adric was really so hard.

"That makes sense. I met a woman when I arrived, bright purple, unlike anything I'd ever seen and from no place I knew."

He pretended to make a face. "Wonderful. A day of cricket. Let's find the date and the train station then."

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She gripped his hand tightly, not willing to let him go, silently communicating that she was sorry, that she didn't think, had no idea that it would bother him so much.

"This place has the oddest sorts. A sort of...meeting between worlds and times makes sense, doesn't it?"

She smiled. "I'm sure we're at the proper time, Doctor."

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He glanced at her, offering a weak, reassuring smile - to tell her without words that he didn't blame her, that he'd overreacted.

"Did you get on?" he asked Turlough, and when he turned to him his smilw was only a curious one.

"There have always places where the barriers thin - perhaps that realm has been crossed so much it's all but gone."

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"Well enough, yes. She gave me a brooch. I think she may have been chatting me up but she was friendly." He explained, absently as he watched the Doctor and Nyssa both settle.

"You know, that makes sense. Easy to fall into. It's not a bad place. I rather like it."

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"Well, you're just simply irresistible, Turlough. It isn't any wonder, really." Nyssa teased. "It must be the hair."

"It seems safe though. You would think with three of the Doctor so near..."

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"You flatter us both, Nyssa," the Doctor said, smiling softly.

"I quite like it, as well - so many people to meet, and to find again."

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He preened, noticeably. "Why thank you, Nyssa. I've always been quite aware, of course, but it's nice to hear it confirmed."

"It's the meeting people who have no intention of killing me that really seals the deal for me." Turlough shrugged. "Though really it's in a different playing field when you take into account that my friends are here."

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"It isn't flattery if it's true, though I'm tempted to take it back before it gets to Vislor's head." She grinned, peeking out from over the Doctor to grace Turlough with a look of teasing affection before settling close to the Doctor.

"I haven't met as many new people as I would like. Rose seems a lovely sort, and I don't suppose I can count meeting your Ninth and Tenth selves as a meeting so much as a reunion..."

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